The FRONT ROW ROUND 20 2020 VOLUME 1 · ISSUE 18 Thanks & goodbye Departing & retiring players tribute

Heading home NRL family prepares to bid Warriors a fond farewell

INSIDE: NRL Round 20, Round 13 & International program with squad lists, previews & head to head stats PLUS Crossword, Word Jumbles, NRL Round 19 Wrap, Ladder & Stats, NSWRL Grand Final teams THE FRONT ROW FORUMS AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST DISCUSSION BOARDS

forums.leagueunlimited.com

THERE IS NO OFF-SEASON

2 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 What’s inside From the editor THE FRONT ROW - ISSUE 18 Tim Costello

From the editor 3 As we bid farewell to the regular season of the NRL this Feature: Thank You Warriors 4-5 week, we have a bumper issue from all corners of the globe. Feature; Retiring & Departing Players 6-7 We pay tribute to the incredible sacrifices made by the Feature: Finals Fowards 8 Warriors in remaining in Australia for several months to Crossword, Word Jumbles, Birthdays 9 ensure the NRL could resume and complete the 2020 THE WRAP · NRL Round 19 10-14 premiership; as well as a tribute to the careers of some of Match reports 10-12 the NRL's finest departing and retiring stars. We've also got a look at the top eight forward packs heading into the finals The Scoresheet, Match Review & series. LU Player of the Year Standings 13 Premiership Ladder, Stats Leaders 14 But this week most excitingly - international footy is back. Netherlands and Germany face off in the annual GAME DAY · NRL Round 20 15-35 Griffin Cup this Saturday! You can find teamlists, officials LU Team Tips 15 and a full preview right here in The Front Row, as well as THU Broncos v Cowboys 16-17 some remarks from IRL CEO Nigel Wood and a story from renowned journalist Steve Mascord. FRI Titans v Knights 18-19 Rabbitohs v Roosters 20-21 We welcome back our crossword this week as well as squad SAT Bulldogs v Panthers 22-23 lists, previews and match stats for Super League as the season moves into Round 13. It really is a huge edition - Sharks v Raiders 24-25 check it out. And most of all, stay safe and happy reading! Tigers v Eels 26-27 SUN Warriors v Sea Eagles 28-29 Dragons v Storm 30-31 2020 NRL Draw 32-33 NSWRL Grand Final Day & Results 34-35 The FRONT ROW GAME DAY · Super League Round 13 35-45 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS THU Hull KR v 36-37 Hull FC v Salford 38-39 We’d like to thank RugbyLeagueProject.org for their support and use of various statistics throughout this publication. v Huddersfield 40-41 FRI Warrington v Catalans 42-43 Interested in advertising with The Front Row or Wigan v Wakefield 44-45 LeagueUnlimited.com, or just want to provide feedback? Contact us by email - [email protected] GAME DAY · Griffin Cup International 46-50 Welcome - Nigel Wood (IRL CEO) 46 Magazine content originally appears International rugby league - the sport they on LeagueUnlimited.com © 2020. couldn't kill 47 Cover image: Warriors warm-up. Courtesy SAT Netherlands v Germany 48-49 Souvenir cover 50 MANAGERS Steven Williams & Coby Delaney EDITOR Tim Costello

CONTRIBUTORS Andrew Ferguson Steve Mascord Adam Huxtable Paul Jobber Sam Bourke Rick Edgerton Hamish Parker PRINTED IN Robert Crosby Andrew Jackson AND Andrew Carey Jason Hosken Justin Davies Lachy MacCorquodale LONDON BY Josh Robertson Emile El-Azar LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 | 3 FEATURE · THANK YOU WARRIORS! Packing their bags prepare for emotion-charged family reunions

NE hundred and forty nine days. Coach Todd Payten admitted his superstar had been counting down the days until he was reunited with partner Ashley and Four months and 26 days. their two children.

OTwo-fifths of one calendar year. "I'd like to put him on a plane (now), but it's just not going to happen," he said. No matter how you look at it, the New Zealand Warriors have sacrificed plenty in 2020, but their 21-week stay in the country will "We spoke about putting him on a commercial flight, but he'll get finally come to an end on Monday. home quicker on a charter.

While some families have had their loved ones by their side for a large "I know he's counting down the days; he told me that his wife Ash was portion of the time, others haven't been quite so fortunate. relieved we got beat (against Cronulla which ended their finals hopes) and I can't hold that against the kid." Second-rower was one of the lucky ones who managed to have his family included in the team's bubble. Tuivasa-Sheck told the Wide World of Sports that he had been going to bed early and laying awake at night watching videos of his two But wife Jess is more than aware they were in a better position than a kids. number of teammates, but they also had to sacrifice some normality in the process. "I miss them everyday," he said.

"I decided after about six weeks in while we were still in "My little boy started crawling not so long ago, my girl's speaking so lockdown that I was to head over with the boys to reunite with Adam," much and she's only two so the toughest part for me has been not she said. being home to do my duties like that."

"I am Australian so I guess I had that choice, whereas many of the The 27-year-old has already missed out on a number of small families didn't even get that option." milestones while being in Australia.

It was seven weeks apart by the time the Blair's were reunited at the "The kids are doing really cool things now that they weren't doing team's Terrigal base after they were forced to quarantine. when I was at home," he said.

"My dad drove me and the kids from Brisbane to Terrigal but "I'm hoping to make it back for my son's first birthday which is on obviously due to the NRL bubble he couldn't stop and stay so he just October 14. I missed my girl's second birthday so I've been missing dropped us at reception and had to leave," she said. things like that."

"I had planned to go back to to stay and see The Warriors tackle Manly at Central Coast Stadium on Sunday my family, but when the borders shut I was essentially before the NRL community will bid them a fond farewell. stuck in NSW too." While coach Todd Payten will head to North Queensland in 2021, he admitted he would look back on his time at the club with great pride. The Blair's visit was only meant to be a short one with Jess and the kids due to return to Auckland on July 20. "I'm really proud of this group of men; they've changed my "I wanted the kids to be back at school, but with the news Adam's nan life and I owe them a whole debt of gratitude," he said. was sick and the kids wanting to stay, we decided to stay," she said. Payten is now requesting one final 80-minute performance. That meant enrolling nine-year-old Harlem into a new school which resulted in the naturopath and nutritionist losing most of her work. They don't want their last match to undo all the hard work they've done over the past 149 days since they arrived in Tamworth on May She then had to study from Terrigal while trying to settle into life in 3. the bubble. "If we don't show the same effort that we've shown for the past 10 While the Blair's will be the first to admit they have been fortunate, weeks then we'll get some people saying it's the same old Warriors," others including Roger Tuivasa-Sheck haven't been. Payten said.

4 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 Paul Jobber Contributor

Bags packed: Life on the road hasn't been easy for the men from across the Tasman.

Adam with wife Jess and children Harlem & Taika

Warriors forward Adam Blair with his grandfather Patrick and late grandmother Ngahuia

LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 | 5 FEATURE - RETIRING & DEPARTING PLAYERS A lasting legacy We celebrate the NRL's departing class of 2020

lose to 2,700 games of NRL experience will finish up at CHRIS LAWRENCE the end of the home-and-away season this weekend. Holding the records as the equal leading try-scorer (84) and youngest player to debut (17-years-old) for the , Chris Lawrence For many, the final whistle will bring a close to wonderful showed remarkable determination to come back from several injuries Ccareers. Some will progress on to the finals. Others will head overseas that threatened to prematurely end his career. Finishing up as a in pursuit of new challenges. one-club player with the joint venture, the 31-year-old centre-turned- second rower represented Australia on six occasions. Each of these players has left an impression on the NRL and will be 253 NRL Games (Wests Tigers: 2006-2020) missed by clubs and supporters alike. NRL Debut: Wests Tigers 20 v 6 - Round 21, 2006 (Wing, #18) From everyone at League Unlimited, we would like to extend our admiration and thanks to the departing class of 2020. JOEL THOMPSON Leaving the NRL as one of the most respected players in the league, DARIUS BOYD Joel Thompson gave great service to Canberra, St George Illawarra Excelling for club, state and country over the past 15 seasons, and Manly over the course of 13 seasons. Granted a release from the Darius Boyd finishes as the ninth most capped player in premiership final year of his contract to join English powerhouse St Helens, the history. Featuring in 337 matches for Brisbane, St George Illawarra 32-year-old second rower appeared for the Indigenous All Stars on a and Newcastle, the 33-year-old Clive Churchill Medallist played an record seven occasions. integral role in Queensland’s eight-in-a-row dynasty with 17 tries in 234 NRL Games (: 2008-2013; St George Illawarra 28 appearances for the Maroons. Dragons: 2014-2017; Manly Sea Eagles: 2018-2020) 337 NRL Games (Brisbane Broncos: 2006-2008, 2015-2020; St NRL Debut: Canberra Raiders 52 v Bulldogs 34 - Round 26, 2008 George Illawarra Dragons: 2009-2011; : 2012- (Interchange, #20) 2014) NRL Debut: Brisbane Broncos 4 v 36 - JOHN BATEMAN Round 1, 2006 (Wing, #5) Making an immediate impact in the NRL by helping Canberra reach their first grand final in a quarter of a century, John Bateman MITCHELL AUBUSSON endeared himself to supporters with his competitive nature. Named Retiring as the most-capped player in the history of the Sydney Dally M Second Rower of the Year in 2019, the 26-year-old will return Roosters with 304 appearances - and counting - Mitchell Aubusson to Wigan next season to be closer to his family. epitomised what it meant to be a one-club man. Playing every 31 NRL Games* (Canberra Raiders: 2019-2020) position expect fullback and front row over the course of 14 seasons NRL Debut: Canberra Raiders 19 v 0 - Round 1, in the top grade, the 32-year-old three-time premiership winner was 2019 (Lock, #13) afforded the honour of captaining Country Origin in the final City v Country match in 2017. > 304 NRL Games* (: 2007-2020) Making a try-scoring debut for NRL Debut: Sydney Roosters 6 v South Sydney Roosters 18 - Round Sydney in 2010, Aidan Guerra 1, 2007 (Five-Eighth, #6) went on to win a premiership, play for Queensland and GAVIN COOPER represent Australia and Italy Reaping the benefits of playing outside Johnathan Thurston for on the international stage. much of his career, Gavin Cooper etched his name into North Taking a giant leap of faith as Queensland legend as a member of the 2015 premiership-winning the first high profile player to team. Playing in the very first Gold Coast side and spending two join Newcastle during the club’s seasons at Penrith, the 35-year-old veteran made six appearances for rebuilding years, the 32-year-old Queensland - becoming one of the oldest Origin debutants at age 30 is set to hang up the boots after in 2016. helping the Knights reach the 323 NRL Games (North Queensland Cowboys: 2006, 2011-2020; finals for the first time in seven Gold Coast Titans: 2007-2008; : 2009-2010) years. NRL Debut: North Queensland Cowboys 20 v Manly Sea Eagles 16 - 210 NRL Games* (Sydney Round 2, 2006 (Interchange, #21) Roosters: 2010-2017; Newcastle Knights: 2018-2020) NRL Debut: Sydney Roosters 36 v 10 - Round 1, 2010 (Interchange, #14) Photo: Newcastle Knights media

6 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 Robert Crosby Contributor

TIM GLASBY with Canberra before heading to the Gold Coast, the 28-year-old also Forced to cut his time in the NRL short following a number of head appeared for Country Origin on one occasion. knocks, Glasby rose from an unknown to become a premiership- 125 NRL Games (Canberra Raiders: 2014-2018; Gold Coast Titans: winning forward in a career spanning eight seasons. Playing the bulk 2019-2020) of his career with Melbourne before offering a wealth of experience to NRL Debut: Canberra Raiders 22 v North Queensland Cowboys 28 - Newcastle, the 31-year-old appeared in five Origins for Queensland Round 1, 2014 (Interchange, #17) to finish as one of the great success stories of the past decade. 138 NRL Games (: 2013-2018; Newcastle Knights: JAMES GRAHAM 2019-2020) Returning to England shortly after the COVID-19 resumption to see NRL Debut: Melbourne Storm 4 v Wests Tigers 22 - Round 16, 2013 out his career with St Helens, James Graham changed the way front (Interchange, #21) rowers played during his time with Canterbury-Bankstown. Spending two-and-a-half seasons with St George Illawarra, the 35-year-old has KERROD HOLLAND discussed the possibility of returning to Australia once his playing Kicking a match-winning conversion after the siren on debut, Kerrod days are done. Holland earned the Medal as the Canterbury- 186 NRL Games (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: 2012-2017; St Bankstown Rookie of the Year in 2016. Playing five seasons in the top George Illawarra Dragons: 2018-2020) grade as a centre, winger and bench utility, the 28-year-old will return NRL Debut: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 22 v Penrith Panthers to Newcastle with his young family - while leaving the door ajar for a 14 - Round 1, 2012 (Interchange, #14) return should the Knights come knocking. 70 NRL Games (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: 2016-2020) CHRIS MCQUEEN NRL Debut: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 18 v Penrith Panthers Coming off the bench in South Sydney’s historic premiership victory 16 - Round 2, 2016 (Centre, #4) in 2014, Chris McQueen will forever have his Rabbitohs player number - 1070 - emblazoned on his neck. Going on to play with the JAYSON BUKUYA Gold Coast and Wests Tigers in the NRL, the 33-year old Queensland Playing the bulk of his career with Cronulla, along with one season and England representative linked with Huddersfield midway through at New Zealand, Jayson Bukuya will be forever remembered as a 2020. member of the Sharks’ first premiership-winning team. Opting to 164 NRL Games (South Sydney Rabbitohs: 2009-2015; Gold Coast hang up the boots during the COVID-19 break, the 31-year-old has Titans: 2016-2017; Wests Tigers: 2018-2020) continued to ply his trade in the President’s Cup with CYMS. NRL Debut: South Sydney Rabbitohs 36 v Manly Sea Eagles 22 - 186 NRL Games (Cronulla Sharks: 2008-2013, 2015-2019; New Round 22, 2009 (Wing, #20) Zealand Warriors: 2014) NRL Debut: Cronulla Sharks 22 v Bulldogs 30 - Round 11, 2008 (Interchange, #19) Managing eight appearances for the Gold Coast after a successful career with Leeds and England, Kallum Watkins chose to return to the SHANNON BOYD UK during the COVID-19 shutdown to be with his family. Representing the Kangaroos in four test matches at the height of his 8 NRL Games (Gold Coast Titans: 2019-2020) powers, Shannon Boyd elected to bring a close to his career in order NRL Debut: Gold Coast Titans 12 v Brisbane Broncos 34 - Round 19, to return to his family’s farm in Cowra. Playing the bulk of his career 2019 (Centre, #3)

< SULIASI VUNIVALU Bursting onto the scene with 23 tries in 21 appearances during his record-breaking rookie year, Suliasi Vunivalu has gone on to score 83 tries - and counting. Winning a premiership with Melbourne in 2017 and scoring 12 tries in 10 tests for Fiji, the 24-year-old will head to the Queensland Reds for the next two seasons after penning a deal with Rugby Australia. 108 NRL Games* (Melbourne Storm: 2016-2020) NRL Debut: Melbourne Storm 19 v Wests Tigers 18 - Round 7, 2016 (Wing, #22) The Wests Tigers' season may be Photo: NRL Images,over, but supplied Botille Vette-Welsh Melbourne Storm is still on a mission. Images courtesy Wests Tigers Football Club Media

LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 | 7 FEATURE · RICK'S PICKS FOR THE FINALS Rick Edgerton Contributor

4. RAIDERS - 8. 10. 11. Elliott Forward power Whitehead 12. John Bateman 13. Matching strides with the Roosters for much of last year’s grand final, Last week in our build up to finals footy we rated the spines of the 8 the Raiders pack will boast plenty of confidence coming into another sides, but as the old adage goes – you don’t win big games without laying finals series and are led by arguably the best bookend in the game in the platform first. This week we rate the forward packs set to go to war Papalii. Whitehead is one of the real unsung heroes in the comp with his in October. line-running on an edge a constant threat, Tapine is hitting his straps at the right time of year, whilst Bateman remains the wildcard in the pack 8. SHARKS - 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 10. 11. capable of coming up with a big play at any given time. Sutton, Young and 12. Briton Nikora 13. Harawira-Naera have all contributed in recent times, leaving It was only a couple of years ago coming up against the Sharks pack was with a selection headache with the return of experienced forward Soliola viewed as one of the biggest challenges in rugby league and there was back in the mix. The key that separates the Raiders from most other packs is always going to be a transition period after the exit of hard-nosed forwards their consistency over the 80 minutes. No matter what happens during the such as and . Hamlin-Uele has earned his starting match, you know they will keep coming at you. spot this year and along with impressive rookie Rudolf, provides most of BENCH – , , Corey Harawira-Naera, their punch through the middle. Woods continues to toil away whilst the skillset of Graham provides them with another attacking dimension. They 3. PANTHERS - 8. James Tamou 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame were probably banking on a more from Fifita this season, but the Tongan Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo international’s body has let him down and he hasn’t been able to provide the A bit stiff not to be rated number one given the role they’ve played in the impact that once made him the best prop in the game. Panthers season. Led up front by the experienced Tamou who continues to BENCH – , Jack Williams, , Scott Sorensen poke his nose through the line and New Zealand International Fisher-Harris who leads the comp amongst forwards for metres gained with an average 7. RABBITOHS - 8. Tevita Tatola 10. Tom Burgess 11. 12. 188. Unsung hero Yeo has been a revelation since moving from an edge Jaydn Su’a 13. Cameron Murray to a big minute Lock this year and along with his tireless work rate often Another pack in transition mode this year after the losses of John Sutton provides the link to his halves. A large part of the Panthers game this year and Burgess Brothers Sam and George, they also lost Ethan Lowe to a neck has been their strike power on the edges. On the left, Kikau is the league’s injury mid-year further stretching their depth. Tevita Tatola has impressed equal leading try scorer amongst forwards and leads them for line-breaks, in nailing down a starting position and provides the initial punch through making him one of many X factors in their side. On the right, Martin the middle and his absence to over the last two weeks has been evident. continues to thrive working outside Nathan Cleary and is the type of player Su’a has been another to impress with his hard running on an edge and that competes on every play. physicality in defence a real X factor. Murray continues to churn out top-end BENCH – Zane Tetevano, Moses Leota, Spencer Leniu performances on a weekly basis, but the edge he held over the rest of the comp with his play the ball speed has been offset a touch this year due to 2. STORM - 8. 10. Christian Welch 11. the six again rule speeding up the ruck as a whole 12. Felise Kaufusi 13. BENCH - Liam Knight, Mark Nicholls, Hame Sele, Keaon Koloamatangi It’s never a surprise to see the Storm rated highly in any category with Bellamy’s army continuing to soldier up for duty every year. You get the 6. EELS - 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 10. Junior Paulo 11. sense this pack are a little hungrier this year though. Long regarded as one 12. 13. Nathan Brown of the best props in the game, Jesse Bromwich with his footwork before the The Eels pack were the dominant force behind their early season form. line and the tough as teak Welch ensure they start strong. Kenny Bromwich Running with vigour through the middle third - starting middles Campell- and Kaufusi perform their roles perfectly on an edge and Finucane who Gillard, Paulo and Brown were punching holes into the opposition to lay a should be back from injury for the finals - packs plenty of punch on both great platform. Like their team as a whole, that form has slipped in recently sides of the ball. If you’re good enough to survive that initial onslaught, and the bath they were given by the Panthers forwards two weeks ago imagine Brandon Smith like a bull at a gate along with Asofa-Solomona looked alarming. A pack that can also be creative through Paulo who leads and Fa’asuamaleaui charging at you off the back fence when they enter the the comp for offloads and Matterson on the right edge, but they have to get fray. Nelson leads the comp amongst forwards for tackle busts and Tino is back to running hard and direct behind the ruck first. If they can manage to matching Kikau for tries scored amongst forwards. flick that switch and get back to their aggressive mind-set, they can still be BENCH - Brandon Smith, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Tui a threat in this competition. Former rep Campbell-Gillard Kamikamica was back to career best form for most of the year and has the leg-speed to get his pack rolling again. 1. ROOSTERS - 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. BENCH – , , , Boyd Cordner 12. Sitili Topouniua 13. The premiership winning pack from the previous two years are showing no 5. KNIGHTS - 8. 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon signs of slowing down. There’s no better man in the game at putting an early 12. Aidan Guerra 13. dint in the defensive line than Waerea-Hargreaves and his front-row partner There’s been an ominous look about the Knights pack this year, working as a in crime Taukeiaho provides tremendous leg-speed and footwork at the unit to roll up the park. Last season, it was left to Klemmer to carry the bulk line. Liu in many ways is the unsung hero of this pack, but his footwork is of the load whilst some of the younger brigade continued to develop. This also great and you never see him get dominated in a tackle. Loads of strike year, Klemmer who leads the league for post contact metres is just one of on the edges through Australian skipper Cordner and the rapidly improved many getting the job done. Daniel Saifiti has come on in leaps and bounds Topouniua who now demands a spot in this team. Off the bench, Collins is since making his Origin debut last year and has more line-breaks than any playing career best footy and Crichton who will be looking to force his way of the other middle forwards on this page, with 6 in just the 11 games he’s back into the run-on side, packs plenty of punch. It’s going to be a huge played. D-Saf made his second injury return of the season two weeks ago decision for Trent Robinson to leave one of the below names out of their 17 and after blowing out the cobwebs, looks set for a monster finals campaign. once the big games roll around, but such is the inclusion of one Sonny Bill Twin brother Jacob has been just as impressive and will provide some Williams into this squad. The biggest attribute of the Roosters pack is the serious starch off the pine, whilst the aggressive nature of Barnett applies speed they play at across the park. One after another, they’ll keep coming the finishing touches on the novocastrian’s pack. at you on every play and for the past two seasons the task of stopping that BENCH – Jacob Saifiti, Herman Ese’ese, Sione Mata’utia juggernaut has proven a bridge too far. BENCH – Lindsay Collins, Angus Crichton, Sonny Bill Williams, Mitchell Aubusson, 8 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Crossword 8

Across 9 10 11 1 The 2020 NRL minor premiers (7,8) 8 Plural for I (2) 12 9 ARLC Chairman (5,7) 11 Grand National (acronym) (2) 12 First name of Portugese international hooker 13 14 15 16 who played for the Tigers, Knights, Sharks and Eels, recently retired. (5) 17 18 19 20 21 13 Former Fijian dual code international ranked in the 22 23 24 top-25 Raiders players of all time. (3,7) 17 Business Activity Statement (acronym) (3) 18 Eels coach (6) 25 26 22 Relating to a town or city. (5) 23 Name of the Japenese 27 28 29 30 team. (6) 25 Name given to Australian Women's Basketball 31 32 33 34 team (5) 27 A collection of animals on display. (3) 28 First name of NewsCorp boss. (6) 35 36 31 Web Based Management (initials) (3) 33 Bobcat was a famous one. (7) 37 38 39 40 41 35 Network User Address (acronym) (3) 36 Long serving Southport Tigers coach. (4) 42 43 44 45 46 38 Second part of 23 across. (8) 42 Affectionately known as Baa Baa (4) 44 Plural for me. (2) 47 48 49 45 Newly arrived or newly developed. (7) 47 Shape of a cricket ground. (4) 50 48 Same as 27 across. (3) 50 Plays five-eighth and fullback for the Storm. (7,7) 14 Not normal. (8) 30 Not a dirty word. (3) 15 Initials of NRL coach who coached Eels, 32 The imaginary compartment that all NRL Down Warriors and St Helens, as well as the Kangaroos. players are currently in to avoid contamination. 1 Storm fullback. (11) Won a Dally M for coach of the year. (2) (6) 2 Plays lock for the Eels (6,5) 16 United Arab Emirates. (3) 34 First name of former dual code international 3 Minor monetary unit of the Czech republic 19 Resource Record (initials) (2) who played as an outside back for Sharks and (plural) (6) 20 Camera stand with 3 legs. (6) Broncos in '00s. (4) 4 Bristle that grows from the ear of wheat and 21 Initials of Raiders back rower twice suspended 37 Fijian's favourite liquor (4) barley (3) for eye gouging in 2019. (2) 39 Greek's favourite liquor. (4) 5 Nickname of Noel Kelly who recently passed 23 Initials of back rower and cenre for the Tigers, 40 Mail Order (acronym) (2) and known as one of the hardest men to ever play NSW & Australia from '07 to '12. (2) 41 They wear the numbers 14 to 17 (4) the game of rugby league. (3) 24 Human Services (initials) (2) 42 Line Of Credit (acronym) (3) 6 The noise made by a snake. (4) 26 Recently crowned as the most capped Chook 43 Short for madam (3) 7 Broncos' home ground. (14) ever. (8) 46 Female sheep. (3) 10 Youth Initiative (acronym) (2) 28 Initials of our great game (2) 49 Order Management (acronym) (2) 11 Initials of one of our busiest NRL referees. (2) 29 Urban Dictionary (initials) (2)

Happy birthday! Word Jumbles This round's birthday boys and girls These players are part of a growing group to have played first grade for more than one club in the same season. How many of the names can you unscramble? Wednesday 23 September (Sharks) - 22 SPOON MORTECHY TIGERS & TITANS 2020 Aieshaleigh Smalley (Warriors) - 29 HATPEN SANTA EELS & TITANS 2016 SONAR WADOO BULLDOGS & SHARKS 2018 Thursday 24 September LUSSI CAKE DRAGONS & BRONCOS 2020 Zac Lomax (Dragons) - 21 MORSE JETBARS BRONCOS & RABBITOHS 2019 DARKER RONHULL WARRIORS & TITANS 2016 Friday 25 September BARBIE FARH RABBITOHS & TIGERS 2018 Kerrod Holland (Bulldogs) - 28 GREEK NABLE WARRIORS & KNIGHTS 2020 Teig Wilton (Sharks) - 21 BELLEND RATION KNIGHTS & ROOSTERS 2016 STAN MEELY STORM & SEA EAGLES 2017 Sunday 27 September (Warriors) - 28 ROHILL TEAJAY PANTHERS & TIGERS 2016 Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard (Warriors) - 26 THORK NINTENDOS SHARKS & SEA EAGLES 2018 (Sea Eagles) - 26 LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS: , , Suliasi Vunivalu, Bastien Ader, Liam Finn, , , , Rhyse Martin, , Daniel Addy, Sio Tuesday 29 September Siua Taukeiaho Dean Blore (Panthers) - 22 LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 | 9 THE WRAP · ROUND 19

Bulldogs beat the odds to stun Needing to be next to score having managed to fight back from a 20-point deficit on just two occasions in their history, Rabbitohs winger Jaxson Paulo (32nd minute) was awarded a Rabbitohs try on the spot only for replays to show his foot out of play. Robert Crosby Striking again shortly before halftime, centre Campbell Graham (39th minute) sent the Rabbitohs to the sheds trailing 20-10. Reducing the margin to four points when Alex Johnston (48th minute) finished off a lovely cut-out pass from Cody Walker, the Rabbitohs were made to pay for their inability to stay 16-26 composed during the remainder of the match. The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have recorded their third win of the season after Securing the result through journeyman forward Chris Smith (65th minute), who claimed stunning the South Sydney Rabbitohs 26-16 at ANZ Stadium. his first try after six seasons in the NRL, the Blue and Whites held on to give captain Josh Jackson a win in his 200th appearance. Scoring four tries to three to claim victory in the opening match of Round, the win sees the Bulldogs temporarily move off the bottom of the ladder with one Next week, the Rabbitohs face the Roosters at ANZ Stadium on Friday night in a foundation round remaining. clash set to have a major bearing on the final make-up of the top eight, while the Bulldogs play their final match against the Panthers at ANZ Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Getting off to a strong start with a penalty goal to rookie Jake Averillo, the Bulldogs posted the first try through Tim Lafai (13th minute) after a bat-back from Jayden Okunbor. LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year points: 3 points - Sione Katoa Taking advantage of Rabbitohs second-rower Jadyn Su'a being sent to the sin bin for high 2 points - Josh Jackson contact on , a powerhouse effort from Reimis Smith (23rd minute) followed by 1 points - Jayden Okunbor a third to Raymond Faitala-Mariner (26th minute) saw the visitors establish a 20-0 lead.

After a rare outing where he didn't cross the stripe, Crichton made up for that with a powerful Panthers pounce Cowboys, earn first half. The star centre scored his 14th try of the season from a Kikau pass and could've had a second for being taken out, and Mansour grounding. third Minor Premiership All this season, the Panthers have looked a happy side. It shows in their celebrations, Justin Davies their work around the ball and tonight, it showed in their resolute defense to deny the Cowboys until late in the contest. It will take a big effort to dethrone them on the trip to the Premiership. When Kikau scored five minutes after half-time, it looked like another heavy defeat was on 12-32 the cards. Kikau just swatted away at Cowboys defenders all night but this time, he showed Penrith Panthers have confirmed their third Minor Premiership in their 53-year history his athleticism to catch and slam the ball down. The only trouble for Kikau will be his report after a 32-12 success against North Queensland Cowboys tonight in Townsville. for a high tackle from the first half. A first half onslaught which saw the Panthers stride out to a 20-nil half-time lead. All the Cowboys have only one more game to finish out what has been wretched 2020 season. They destruction came down the Panthers vaunted left-hand side with Stephen Crichton, Villiame will avoid the wooden spoon albeit for some whacky results in the last two rounds, but there Kikau and Josh Mansour found first half tries. Tonight's result made it 14 straight for the isn't much to take from this season. Young winer Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has shown promise, runaway leaders. but outside that, it is a big rebuild for incoming coach Todd Payten. Much of the plaudits this season went to halfback Nathan Cleary, tonight Tonight also was the final game of a storied North Queensland Cowboys career of Gavin showed he isn't he isn't some second fiddle to the Blues representative. Luai has double digit Cooper. The Premiership winning forward had a literal hand in Tabuai-Fidow's four-pointer try assists and picked up a four-pointer before the break. His combination with Crichton and and put together another consistent game in front of his friends and family. Kikau tortured the Cowboys defense all night. LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year points: 3 points - Jarome Luai; 2 points - Stephen Crichton; 1 points -

reflected in their first try, when halfback Mitchell Moses and Clint Gutherson combined to put Gutherson’s Eels too slippery for winger Blake Ferguson over in the corner in an awkward try to open the Eels' account. Off the back of the first try however, then sprung to life when hooker made bottom placed Broncos a bust and off the back of the quick play the ball. The Eels then spread the ball wide to the left, where Moses then found with a looping pass over the top. The giant winger Sam Bourke then displayed some silky skills to touch down just inches inside the corner post. Just as the game seemed to be slipping away from the last placed Broncos, halfback Tom Deardon then provided David Fifita with a nice one on one opportunity close to the line and the Queensland Origin backrower then shrugged off Mitchell Moses with ease to score the Broncos first try of 26-12 the match.

Parramatta are on the brink of a Top 4 finish in 2020, with an unconvincing 26-12 win over Skipper Gutherson then took the game by the scruff of the neck just prior to halftime with the bottom placed Broncos in wet conditions at Bankwest Stadium tonight. back to back tries. The first with an element of luck, when the Eels skipper kicked for the in-goal which luckily rebounded off Kotoni Staggs and Gutherson then regathered to score. Eels skipper Clint Gutherson scored a double in a matter of minutes just before halftime to Minutes later, Gutherson then touched down off a set scrum play, with the Eels skipper selling give his side the advantage. However the win was far from impressive, with Parramatta's a dummy close to the line to slide over to extend his side's lead. Moses missed the conversion attack again failing to fire to the standards set following their red hot early season form. from out wide but the Eels went to the break leading 20-6.

The loss for the Broncos firmly places Queensland's glamour club in prime position for With the Wooden Spoon hovering, the Broncos needed to do something quick and they did their first ever Wooden Spoon if they are unable to register a win against bitter rivals North so after halftime, when captain Darius Boyd thread through a neat kick on the last for centre Queensland in the final round of the season. Brisbane will likely have to get the win without Herbie Farnworth. The young Englishmen then showed tremendous speed to beat everyone strike weapon David Fifita, with the Titans bound backrower injuring his ankle just after to the ball to narrow the Eels lead. Parramatta however again struck back almost immediately, halftime, when his leg got caught under the weight of Eels prop Junior Paulo. Fifita was seen when pounced onto a loose pass from Broncos hooker and the former on crutches on the sideline at the conclusion of the match and looks likely to have played his Dragon put on the afterburners to race 53m to score. Moses converted and the Eels were last game for the club. never headed from that point, winning the game 26-12.

This was a vital game for both sides for vastly different reasons. Parramatta needed to win to The Eels now return to Bankwest for the last game of the regular season, where they face solidify their Top 4 position on the ladder, while after Canterbury's upset victory last night, local rivals the Wests Tigers in one last chance to impress before the Finals Series begins Brisbane had pride and unwanted club history to avoid the Wooden Spoon. the following week. Brisbane now face one of the most important weeks in the club's history, The game got off to a shocking start for the visitors, when rookie half Tyson Gamble was where they will look to avoid the dreaded Wooden Spoon and you can be sure that their bitter knocked out by a trademark Maika Sivo charge in the first defensive set. Gamble managed to Queensland rivals the Cowboys will show them no sympathy given the history between them. collect Sivo's shoulder in an unlucky collision for the young five-eighth. LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year points: As well documented in recent weeks, the Eels attack had been clunky at best and this was 3 points - ; 2 points - Ryan Matterson; 1 points - Kotoni Staggs

10 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 side dancing to the beat. The Titans will finish 2020 as the highest ranked Queensland side Titans thrash Sea Eagles for and might be short odds to retain that title in 2021. After conceding early, the Titans hit the gas. Brimson and Tonumaipea gave the Sea Eagles fourth straight win defense headaches alongside a tip-toe effort from mid-season transfer Corey Thompson to Justin Davies head into the break, up 22-12. Young backrower Sam Stone extended their lead right after the break, then the Titans ran riot. Newly re-signed captain crossed followed by Brimson's second then centre Tremain Spry put the Titans past 40 points and a club record total for the league's 24-42 newest franchise.

Gold Coast Titans produced a wonderful display to down the Manly Sea Eagles, 42-24, Sea Eagles scored first through and fellow front rower this afternoon down at for their fourth straight success. crossed in the first 40 but the Sea Eagles were off the boil. Passes went to ground, DCE directed passes to the opposition and there was a concerted effort to get the returned Tom Today was the most points scored by the Gold Coast Titans side since their admission in Trbojevic involved. 2007. It was another reminder of the talent which is already in the side, shown by fullback AJ Brimson, centre and halfback Jamal Fogarty that is furnished by the big Trbojevic didn't finish his return game. The star fullback who has become the Sea Eagles signings for 2021. most valuable player left the field with a shoulder stinger with 10 minutes left. He looked bright in attack but was slightly behind the pace and it effected the Eagles attack. Brimson has made the fullback position his own since his return. He scored twice today, set up another and was judged Man of the Match in the dominant performance. One noticeable One player who continues to impress for the Sea Eagles, kept going for the aspect of their attack was the settled nature of the spine - Brimson himself, Ash Taylor and full contest. He created the break which saw DCE score and was best on-ground for the well Fogarty all had hands in their eight tries at Brookvale. beaten Sea Eagles. Going into 2021, there is a renewed sense of optimism for the Gold Coast. Four games won LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year points: in a row, some big signings coming in the off-season and Justin Holbrook seems to have the 3 points - Alexander Brimson; 2 points - Young Tonumaipea; 1 points - Moeaki Fotuaika

bagging his second try after snatching a Hughes bomb out of the sky and falling over the Defence out the window as line in the right corner. Smith converted from the sideline again. After Hughes received the ball at second receiver in the middle and strolled through the middle to score in the 32nd minute, which Smith converted, the Storm had a 28-10 lead. Luke Garner got sent to the Storm belt abysmal Tigers sin bin in the 37th minute for pushing Hynes off the ball. A minute later, the Storm scored a Andrew Ferguson great try against the run of play. Marshall's kick for his right side was allowed to bounce and Justin Olam claimed the ball, danced in front of Joey Leilua, before running past him and then passing to Addo-Carr who raced away, stepping Harry Grant and then getting away from a defiant effort by Doueihi, to score on the left side. Smith failed to convert. At halftime, 50-22 Melbourne lead 32-10. Melbourne's attack was in fantastic form but the same couldn't be said about their The opening 11 minutes of the second half was quite unique for the game, as no points were defence, as they drummed up a 50-22 win over a very disappointing Tigers side at scored. But that soon changed. In the 51st minute Marshall produced another stunning play Sunshine Coast Stadium tonight. under pressure, firing a beautiful pass that cut out two players and hit Kepaoa on the chest who then ran 15 metres to score in the left corner. Doueihi nailed the sideline conversion. The first half saw more than a point scored per minute. Melbourne opened the scoring in the Three minutes passed before the Tigers were in again and an ominous comeback looked fourth minute when Jahrome Hughes looked up and saw the Tigers winger was up in the line, to be on the cards. Doueihi received the ball in the middle, with no options. So he ran so he kicked to the wing and Suliasi Vunivalu regathered and scored unopposed in the right between two defenders and got through them with ease to score under the posts. He quickly corner. Cameron Smith converted from touch. converted to reduce the deficit to just 10 points. But from this point on, it was all Melbourne. Four minutes later and the Storm were in again thanks to a very easy training run style play. In the 58th minute Felise Kaufusi stepped back infield and made a break on the right before Hughes on the left side at first receiver shaped to kick, then passes to Cameron Munster who passing to Justin Olam who dived over to score. Smith converted. Nine minutes later, it linked with Nicho Hynes in motion, who held up a pass before drawing the defender, linked looked like Olam was going to score, but Grant denied him with a stunning defensive effort with Kenny Bromwich who put Josh Addo-Carr in for a try on the left edge. Smith converted on his own line. from the left sideline. Melbourne looked to have scored in the 13th minute, but Aloiai produced a stunning try saving tackle on Tino Fa'asuamaleaui who was falling over the line A silly play by Luciano Leilua lead to another Storm try in the 71st minute. After completing and looked certain to score. Aloiai knocked the ball out and Marshall cleaned up. The Tigers a tackle but still lying on the ground, Leilua swatted at the ball after it had been played by got on the board in the 16th minute when ran to the line and sent a customary the Storm. Cameron Smith toed the loose ball into the Tigers ingoal area, followed it through no-look, flat, cut-out pass to Asu Kepaoa, who dived dramatically to score in the left corner. and grounded it for a try, which he also converted. fails to convert from out wide. Melbourne hit back 3 minutes later. This time they went to the left side where Hynes received a pass out the back and ran between a pair of With just 4 minutes remaining in the game, Cameron Smith grubbered the ball from dummy flat footed Tigers defenders to score a soft try. Smith fails to convert from touch. half, into the Tigers in goal and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui followed through and grounded it on the left side. Smith added the extras to bring up the half century. The Tigers responded in the 24th minute when Josh Aloiai stormed onto a crash ball in the middle, smashed through Jesse Bromwich and then fell over the line for a strong try near the LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year points: posts. Doueihi converted. Three minutes later and the Storm were in again, with Vunivalu 3 points - Jahrome Hughes; 2 points - Cameron Smith; 1 points - Josh Addo-Carr

with two tries in quick succession with getting over the line despite the valiant Roosters too good for efforts Sione Katoa trying to hold him up. The second try in the succession for the Roosters came when Isaac Liu charged through the middle of the of the Sharks defence with some injury-hit Sharks footwork before finding who scored. Josh Robertson The Roosters then added a second try for the record-breaking Aubusson who got the green lights from the NRL bunker despite replays suggesting Aubusson had knocked on in the lead-up when chasing through a desperate kick from Angus Crichton on the last. The Sharks ended the first half on a high when crossed with a remarkable 34-18 dive in the corner and Shaun Johnson converted to close the gap to 24-12 at the break. The Sydney Roosters have kept up their strong run into the NRL finals going with a 34- 18 victory over the Cronulla Sharks. The second half became a disaster for the Sharks despite only conceding two tries with the injuries to Johnson and Hunt whilst also succumbed to a knee injury. Despite the Roosters victory, the biggest talking point to come out of the match will be the injury toll for the Cronulla Sharks with star halfback Shaun Johnson suffering a suspected The Sharks dominated possession during the open 20 minutes of the second half but it was snapped Achilles whilst suffered a serious knee injury also during the second the Roosters who were able to get on the board first when Luke Keary got his second of the half. night after Brett Morris was able to go down the short-side before flinging a pass back into the inside which found Keary. The Roosters opened the scoring in just the fifth minute when Mitch Aubusson crossed for his opening try when the Sharks defence opened up with ease following the veteran's angled Cronulla did eventually get on the board again inside the final 10 minutes of the game when run. Braden Hamlin-Uele charged his way through to the line after a missed SBW tackle gave the Sharks big man space. The lead for the home-side didn't last too long when the Sharks hit back through Siosifa Talakai got through to score after Shaun Johnson set him up with a flat pass along the 10m Joey Manu showed why he is one of the strongest players in the competition as he fought his line which opened up the space. way to the line and got the ball on the line despite the efforts of 3 Sharks defenders to score. A Kyle Flanagan penalty goal put the tri-colours back in front before the Roosters hit back LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year points: 3 points - ;LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM 2 points - Isaac Liu; 1 points | THE - Luke FRONT Keary ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 | 11 THE WRAP · ROUND 19

Battered Raiders earn hard In the 29th minute, the Warriors extended their lead further when Hiku snared his second try after imitated Benji Marshall, looking out the back while throwing a short, flat ball to the lead runner Hiku, who fell over the line in a tackle to score. Harris-Tavita failed to fought win over Warriors convert a somewhat easy attempt at goal. Andrew Ferguson Three minutes later, the Warriors were pressing the Raiders line once again, but a nothing play saw an offload hit the deck. Semi Valemei swooped in and cleaned up the loose ball 10 metres from his own line and then raced 90 metres to score untouched. Croker's sideline 26-14 conversion was waved away. Four minutes later and the Raiders levelled the scores after Elliott Whitehead grubbered. The Canberra's top four aspirations remain intact after they scored a tough 26-14 win over ball bounced off Tuivasa-Sheck and went back to Whitehead, who kicked it again into the the Warriors at GIO Stadium today, however they could have a few players carrying middle, where Hudson Young dived to juggle the ball, but managed to control it and score injuries into next week. under the posts. Croker converted from in front to give Canberra a 2 point lead at the break Winger Semi Valemei copped a pair of strong head knocks which forced him off the field late In the 51st minute, Tuivasa-Sheck busted through the middle, getting to within 5 metres of in the game, John Bateman picked up an elbow injury but played on, George Williams and the Raiders line and then offloaded, but it was Intercepted by Wighton who runs to halfway, copped head knocks in the first half, forcing the former off the field for the linked with who was then tackled 15 metres inside the Warriors half. On the rest of the game, Josh Papalii requiring strapping to his right thigh, while Charnze Nicoll- next play, the Raiders quickly shifted the ball left to Croker, who took the ball to the line Klokstad and Elliott Whitehead both copped some heavy knocks in the second half. before producing a flick pass out the back to Valemei, who ran back infield and through the defender to score his second try. Croker's sideline conversion was again no good. The Warriors opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Kodi Nikorima found open space with a nice grubber into the Raiders in-goal where slid in knees first, regathered Less than 2 minutes later, Croker added a penalty goal to give the Raiders an 8 point lead. and grounded the ball just before the dead ball line. Chanel Harris-Tavita converted. Some sloppy play crept into the game as did a number of stoppages to attend to injured The Raiders hit back five minutes later with a simple four pointer to Jarrod Croker, who got 1 players. on 1 with his defender, then bumped out of the tackle attempt to score, copping a knock to his head in the collision. Croker converted and then came off for an HIA. Canberra put the game to bed in the 73rd minute when Chanel Harris-Tevita made a break, linked with Rapana, who ran and then drew the final defender before passing to , Harris-Tavita kicked a penalty goal in the 20th minute to reclaim the lead. who pulls out a spectacular dive to score in the right corner. Croker again failed to convert from the sideline. The Raiders running out 26-14 winners. A four minute period of Raiders brain snaps saw Harris-Tavita kick another penalty goal before the referee lost his patience and gave 10 minutes in the sin bin. LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year points: 3 points - Semi Valemi; 2 points - Jarrod Croker; 1 points - Hudson Young

The onslaught was put on hold for a bit and the Dragons even looked as if they could mount a Knights surge towards home comeback of sorts when Zac Lomax scored for them 3 minutes before half time. The Dragons had the advantage of a set start from a scrum and Matt Dufty scouted the Newcastle defence with a cross field run, before handing it off to Lomax who beat a few defenders on his way to final with huge win over dreadful the line. Dragons Any joy Dragons fans had was short lived, however. Rookie Cody Ramsey had an unfortunate moment when he dropped the kick off and handed possession straight back to the home Adam Huxtable side. They were able to capitalise, with this time the provider to Enari Tuala, who ran through a gap that was becoming all too familiar for the Knights to make the scoreline 30-6 at the break. The Knights waited 12 minutes to pile on the 2nd half points, with Jacob Saifiti this time 42-18 barging over to make it the first time ever that both the Saifiti twins had scored in the same NRL match. The Newcastle Knights are just one win away from the right to host an elimination final in Newcastle, with a 42-18 win against the Dragons who didn't put up much of a fight. The Dragons didn't lie down as much as they had in the first 40 however, with Corey Norman scoring for them 6 minutes later. Lomax was again in the thick of it, creating space for his The writing was on the wall that this would be a big margin right from the outset, with the outside man Cody Ramsey who showed great speed to get away from the Knights winger. The home side scoring in the third and seventh minute through Kalyn Ponga and Gehamat pass on the inside to Norman wasn't great but got the job done, and the margin was back to Shibasaki. Ponga was on the end of a break from rookie hooker Chris Randall, while 24. Shibasaki took to the air to pluck the ball out of the Dragons' hands. In the final 10 minutes, Tuala scored try number 2 in similar fashion to his first, while Lomax The one way traffic continued, with Kalyn Ponga again proving his attacking prowess by again proved his worth to the Dragons when he out-leapt Kalyn Ponga to score his second, chinking across field and putting Aidan Guerra through a hole in final regular season home equally impressive try. It wasn't enough however, the final score 42-18 to the Knights. game of his career. Next week, the Knights will look to put the home final beyond doubt with a win against a The Knights were scoring them in batches, and 3 minutes after the Guerra try Daniel Saifiti strong Titans outfit on the Gold Coast, while it doesn't get any easier for the Dragons who will took advantage of some soft Dragons defence to reach out and make it a 22 point lead. There return home to face the Storm. were 3 Dragons holding on to the big man but none of them thought to secure the ball, with Saifiti using his long reach to score the try. LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Year points: 3 points - Kalyn Ponga; 2 points - David Klemmer; 1 points - Zac Lomax

facebook.com/rugbyleagueproject

Social icon Circle

Only use blue and/or white.

For more details check out our www.rugbyleagueproject.org Brand Guidelines. twitter.com/rugbyleagueproj

Support us on Patreon 12 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 Treymain Spry tries; Ashley Taylor 5/8 goals) def Sea Eagles 24 (Jack Gosiewski (2), Daly Cherry-Evans, Taniela Paseka tries; Daly Cherry-Evans 4/4 goals) def; Venue: Lottoland; Date: Saturday 19 September The Scoresheet 2020, 3:00pm AEST; Halftime: Titans 22-12; Referee: Matt Noyen; Touch Judges: Liam Kennedy, Gavin Badger; NRL Bunker: Jared Maxwell Scores, scorers, match details from Round 19 Storm 50 (Suliasi Vunivalu (2), Cameron Smith, Josh Addo-Carr (2), Nicholas Hynes, Jahrome Hughes, Bulldogs 26 (Tim Lafai, Reimis Smith, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Chris Smith tries; Jake Averillo 4/4, Justin Olam, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui tries; Cameron Smith 7/9 goals) def Tigers 22 (Asu Kepaoa (2), Adam Brandon Wakeham 1/2 goals) def Rabbitohs 16 (Jaxson Paulo, Campbell Graham, Alex Johnston tries; Doueihi, Josh Aloiai tries; Adam Doueihi 3/4 goals); Venue: Sunshine Coast Stadium; Date: Saturday 19 Adam Reynolds 2/3 goals); Venue: ANZ Stadium; Date: Thursday 17 September 2020, 7:50pm AEST; September 2020, 5:30pm AEST; Halftime: Storm 32-10; Referee: Gerard Sutton; Touch Judges: Todd Smith, Halftime: Bulldogs 20-10; Crowd: 4859; Referee: Ashley Klein; Touch Judges: Chris Butler, Phil Henderson; Peter Gough; NRL Bunker: Ashley Klein NRL Bunker: Henry Perenara Roosters 34 (Mitchell Aubusson (2), Daniel Tupou, Luke Keary (2), Joseph Manu tries; Kyle Flanagan 5/7 Panthers 32 (Brian To'o, Stephen Crichton, Josh Mansour, Jarome Luai, Viliame Kikau, Brent Naden goals) def Sharks 18 (Siosifa Talakai, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Braden Hamlin-Uele); Venue: Sydney Cricket tries; Nathan Cleary 4/6 goals) def Cowboys 12 (Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, tries; Ground; Date: Saturday 19 September 2020, 7:35pm AEST; Halftime: Roosters 24-12; Referee: Ben 2/2 goals); Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium; Date: Friday 18 September 2020, 6:00pm AEST; Cummins; Touch Judges: Phil Henderson, Belinda Sharpe; NRL Bunker: Steve Chiddy Halftime: Panthers 20-0; Crowd: 7247; Referee: Matt Cecchin; Touch Judges: Jon Stone, Drew Oultram; NRL Bunker: Steve Clark Raiders 26 (Jarrod Croker, Semi Valemi (2), Hudson Young, Nick Cotric tries; Jarrod Croker 3/6 goals) def Warriors 14 (Peta Hiku (2) tries; Chanel Harris-Tavita 3/4 goals); Venue: GIO Stadium Canberra; Date: Eels 26 (Blake Ferguson, Maika Sivo, Clinton Gutherson (2), Jai Field tries; Mitchell Moses 3/5 goals) def Sunday 20 September 2020, 2:00pm AEST; Halftime: Raiders 16-14; Referee: Chris Sutton; Touch Judges: Broncos 12 (David Fifita, Herbie Farnworth tries; Kotoni Staggs 2/2 goals); Venue: Bankwest Stadium; Date: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski, Drew Oultram; NRL Bunker: Steve Clark Friday 18 September 2020, 7:55pm AEST; Halftime: Eels 20-6; Referee: Henry Perenara; Touch Judges: Chris Sutton, Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamsk; NRL Bunker: Ashley Klein Knights 42 (Kalyn Ponga, Gehamat Shibasaki, Aidan Guerra, Daniel Saifiti, Enari Tuala (2), Jacob Saifiti tries; 7/7 goals) def Dragons 18 (Zac Lomax (2), Corey Norman tries; Zac Lomax 3/3 goals); Titans 42 (Alexander Brimson (2), Corey Thompson, Young Tonumaipea (2), Sam Stone, Kevin Proctor, Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium; Date: Sunday 20 September 2020, 4:05pm AEST; Halftime: Knights 30-6; Referee: Grant Atkins; Touch Judges: David Munro, Jon Stone; NRL Bunker: Steve Chiddy

(Panthers), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Eels); 4 points - Kotoni Staggs (Broncos), Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs), Viliame Kikau (Panthers), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm), Josh Morris (Sharks), LeagueUnlimited Moeaki Fotuaika (Titans), Kyle Flanagan (Roosters), (Sea Eagles), (Broncos), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Storm), Tevita Pangai Junior (Broncos), Justin Olam (Storm), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Bulldogs), Hudson Young (Raiders), Toby Rudolf (Sharks), Shaun Lane (Eels), (Roosters); 3 points - Mitchell Barnett (Knights), Semi Valemi (Raiders), Will Kennedy Player of the Year (Sharks), (Wests Tigers), (Raiders), Kevin Proctor (Titans), Jake Clifford (Cowboys), Nick Meaney (Bulldogs), (Bulldogs), John Bateman (Raiders), At the conclusion of each match our reporters choose their best three players from the match. On (Sea Eagles), Jamayne Isaako (Broncos), Adam Clune (Dragons), Charlie Staines (Panthers), Waqa this page, we’ll publish the full standings throughout the season. Blake (Eels), (Sharks), Addin Fonua-Blake (Sea Eagles), Bradman Best (Knights), Brian Kelly (Titans), Valentine Holmes (Cowboys), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters); 2 points - Ronaldo 30 points - Nathan Cleary (Panthers); 27 points - Cameron Smith (Storm); 22 points - Shaun Johnson Mulitalo (Sharks), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Raiders), (Sea Eagles), Thomas Burgess (Sharks), Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs); 21 points - Kalyn Ponga (Knights) (Rabbitohs), Jake Averillo (Bulldogs), Christian Welch (Storm), Daniel Tupou (Roosters), Payne Haas 20 points - (Roosters), Jack Wighton (Raiders); 17 points - Cameron Munster (Broncos), Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs), Ryan Sutton (Raiders), (Bulldogs), Campbell (Storm); 16 points - Luke Keary (Roosters), Clinton Gutherson (Eels); 14 points - Cody Walker Graham (Rabbitohs), Josh Jackson (Bulldogs), Ryan Matterson (Eels), Isaac Liu (Roosters), Beau (Rabbitohs), Brett Morris (Roosters), Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), Jahrome Hughes (Storm); 13 Fermor (Titans), Lachlan Fitzgibbon (Knights), (Bulldogs), Lindsay Collins (Roosters), points - Jamal Fogarty (Titans), Jarome Luai (Panthers); 12 points - George Williams (Raiders), Braydon Trindall (Sharks), Michael Jennings (Eels), Dale Finucane (Storm), Emre Guler (Raiders), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles); 11 points - (Sea Eagles), David Klemmer (Knights), Wayde Egan (Warriors), Mikaele Ravalawa (Dragons), (Warriors), Adam Doueihi (Wests Matthew Dufty (Dragons); 10 points - Kodi Nikorima (Warriors), Sione Katoa (Bulldogs), Jason Tigers), Cameron McInnes (Dragons), (Rabbitohs), Matt Ikuvalu (Roosters), Braden Taumalolo (Cowboys), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors); 9 points - Ashley Taylor (Titans), Josh Papali'i Hamlin-Uele (Sharks), David Fifita (Broncos), Nick Cotric (Raiders), Corey Thompson (Wests Tigers), (Raiders), Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm), Mitchell Pearce (Knights), Stephen Crichton (Panthers); 8 Tyson Frizell (Dragons), Siosifa Talakai (Sharks); 1 point - Ethan Lowe (Rabbitohs), Elliott Whitehead points - (Eels), Mitchell Moses (Eels), Blake Green (Warriors), Kurt Mann (Knights); 7 (Raiders), (Knights), Coen Hess (Cowboys), Tyrell Fuimaono (Dragons), points - James Fisher-Harris (Panthers), Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys), Wade Graham (Sharks), Liam (Warriors), Joseph Tapine (Raiders), (Sharks), (Wests Tigers), Josh Mcguire Martin (Panthers), Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs), Harry Grant (Storm), Jarrod Croker (Raiders), Isaah (Cowboys), Jayden Okunbor (Bulldogs), (Cowboys), Luke Thompson (Bulldogs), Chanel Yeo (Panthers), David Nofoaluma (Wests Tigers), Peta Hiku (Warriors); 6 points - Reed Mahoney Harris-Tavita (Warriors), Tui Kamikamica (Storm), James Tamou (Panthers), (Titans), (Eels), Alexander Brimson (Titans), Ben Hunt (Dragons), Junior Paulo (Eels), Blayke Brailey (Sharks), Billy Walters (Wests Tigers), Liam Knight (Rabbitohs), Josh Reynolds (Wests Tigers), Siosiua Taukeiaho (Roosters), Joseph Manu (Roosters), Curtis Sironen (Sea Eagles), Matt Burton (Panthers), Herman Ese'ese (Knights), (Bulldogs), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Cowboys), (Panthers), Zac Lomax (Dragons), (Warriors); 5 points - Maika Sivo (Eels), Nathan Darius Boyd (Broncos), Phillip Sami (Titans), Andrew McCullough (Broncos), Patrick Carrigan Brown (Eels), Michael Morgan (Cowboys), Josh Addo-Carr (Storm), (Sea Eagles), Will (Broncos), (Raiders), Thomas Flegler (Broncos), Brendan Elliot (Sea Eagles), Luke Garner Hopoate (Bulldogs), Young Tonumaipea (Titans), Daniel Saifiti (Knights), Corey Norman (Dragons), (Wests Tigers), Jordan Pereira (Dragons), Jaydn Su'A (Rabbitohs), Taniela Paseka (Sea Eagles), Tevita (Wests Tigers), Dylan Edwards (Panthers), (Rabbitohs), Apisai Koroisau Tatola (Rabbitohs)

NRL Match Review Round 19 Charge Sheet

Base Priors / discounts Carry Points/fine Points/fine Suspension / Carryovers Player Club Grade / Charge Minute / on who Plea Penalty (loading) overs if guilty if early plea fine accrued Grade 2 1 non similar Guilty - early Jaydn Su’A Rabbitohs 22’, Lachlan Lewis 200 15 265 195 1 match 95 Careless High Tackle (+20%) plea Grade 2 7 yr incident free Guilty - disputes Tim LAFAI Bulldogs 73’, Jaydn Su’A 200 0 150 100 1 match 50 Careless High Tackle (-25%) grading Grade 1 17’, Valentine 1 non similar Guilty - early Viliame KIKAU Panthers $750 fine N/A $900 fine $700 fine $700 fine N/A Careless High Tackle Holmes (+20%) plea Grade 1 Dangerous 3’, Reagan Guilty - early Alex GLENN Broncos 100 None 0 100 75 None 75 Contact (other) Campbell-Gillard plea Grade 1 Dangerous Guilty - early Junior PAULO Eels 42’, David Fifita 100 None 0 100 75 None 75 Contact (other) plea Grade 1 Guilty - early Michael JENNINGS Eels 47’, Kotoni Staggs $750 fine 1 similar (+50%) N/A $1150 fine $850 fine $850 fine N/A Careless High Tackle plea Grade 1 1 non similar Guilty - early Mitch REIN Titans 1’, Curtis Sironen 100 15 115 90 None 90 Dangerous Throw (+20%) plea Grade 1 22’, Moeaki Guilty - early Morgan HARPER Sea Eagles $750 fine None N/A $750 fine $550 fine $550 fine N/A Tripping Fotuaika plea Grade 1 1 non similar Guilty - early Josh PAPALI’I Raiders 27’, Tohu Harris $750 fine N/A $900 fine $700 fine $700 fine N/A Contrary Conduct (+20%) plea Grade 1 1 non similar Guilty - early Jack MURCHIE Warriors 70’, Semi Valemei $750 fine N/A $900 fine $700 fine $700 fine N/A Careless High Tackle (+20%) plea Grade 1 Guilty - early Ben HUNT Dragons 7’, 200 None 0 200 150 1 match 50 Crusher Tackle plea

LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 | 13 THE WRAP · ROUND 19 STATS RUGBY LEAGUE project Premiership ladder NRL 2020 Telstra Premiership after Round 19

Total Home Away Team P W L D F A +/- Pts P W L D F A +/- P W L D F A +/- 1. Penrith Panthers 19 17 1 1 495 238 257 35 10 9 0 0 239 96 143 9 8 1 1 256 142 114 2. Melbourne Storm 19 16 3 0 512 246 266 32 10 9 1 0 330 141 189 9 7 2 0 182 105 77 3. Sydney Roosters 19 14 5 0 544 262 282 28 10 7 3 0 264 145 119 9 7 2 0 280 117 163 4. 19 14 5 0 364 264 100 28 10 8 2 0 188 136 52 9 6 3 0 176 128 48 5. Canberra Raiders 19 13 6 0 407 289 118 26 10 6 4 0 204 162 42 9 7 2 0 203 127 76 6. Newcastle Knights 19 11 7 1 415 338 77 23 10 7 3 0 237 116 121 9 4 4 1 178 222 -44 7. South Sydney Rabbitohs 19 11 8 0 461 344 117 22 9 6 3 0 246 146 100 10 5 5 0 215 198 17 8. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 19 10 9 0 452 442 10 20 9 5 4 0 190 196 -6 10 5 5 0 262 246 16 9. Gold Coast Titans 19 8 11 0 310 457 -147 16 9 4 5 0 146 215 -69 10 4 6 0 164 242 -78 10. Wests Tigers 19 7 12 0 416 477 -61 14 9 3 6 0 215 213 2 10 4 6 0 201 264 -63 11. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 19 7 12 0 347 469 -122 14 10 3 7 0 202 258 -56 9 4 5 0 145 211 -66 12. Warriors 19 7 12 0 303 430 -127 14 9 4 5 0 173 174 -1 10 3 7 0 130 256 -126 13. St George Illawarra Dragons 19 6 13 0 348 430 -82 12 9 3 6 0 192 205 -13 10 3 7 0 156 225 -69 14. North Queensland Cowboys 19 4 15 0 336 504 -168 8 10 3 7 0 210 245 -35 9 1 8 0 126 259 -133 15. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 19 3 16 0 282 462 -180 6 9 1 8 0 124 216 -92 10 2 8 0 158 246 -88 16. Brisbane Broncos 19 3 16 0 252 592 -340 6 9 2 7 0 136 284 -148 10 1 9 0 116 308 -192

Stats leaders NRL 2020 Telstra Premiership after Round 19 Top Tryscorers Pos Player Club P T Top Pointscorer 1 David NOFOALUMA Wests Tigers 19 17 Pos Player Club P T G FG Pts 2 Kyle FELDT North Queensland 19 16 1 Kyle FLANAGAN Sydney 17 4 84 - 184 3 Stephen CRICHTON Penrith 19 15 2 Adam REYNOLDS South Sydney 19 6 73 1 171 Sione KATOA Cronulla 18 15 Josh ADDO-CARR Melbourne 18 15 3 Zac LOMAX St George Illawarra 19 12 58 - 164 Alex JOHNSTON South Sydney 18 15 4 Nathan CLEARY Penrith 17 4 71 3 161 7 Maika SIVO Parramatta 19 14 5 Cameron SMITH Melbourne 16 2 70 - 148 8 Mikaele RAVALAWA St George Illawarra 16 13 6 Jarrod CROKER Canberra 19 5 63 - 146 9 Zac LOMAX St George Illawarra 19 12 7 Kalyn PONGA Newcastle 17 10 43 - 126 Campbell GRAHAM South Sydney 18 12 8 Shaun JOHNSON Cronulla 16 2 56 - 120 Brett MORRIS Sydney 15 12 9 Kyle FELDT North Queensland 19 16 23 - 110 10 Mitchell MOSES Parramatta 16 3 45 1 103 Top Goalkickers 11 Manly Warringah 16 3 39 - 90 Pos Player Club P G GA GK% 12 Stephen CRICHTON Penrith 19 15 7 - 74 1 Kyle FLANAGAN Sydney 17 84 103 82% 2 Adam REYNOLDS South Sydney 19 73 84 87% 13 Wests Tigers 15 4 29 - 74 3 Nathan CLEARY Penrith 17 71 87 82% 14 Kotoni STAGGS Brisbane 13 10 17 - 74 4 Cameron SMITH Melbourne 16 70 84 83% 15 Ashley TAYLOR Gold Coast 18 1 33 - 70 5 Jarrod CROKER Canberra 19 63 75 84% 16 Nicholas MEANEY Canterbury 16 6 22 - 68 6 Zac LOMAX St George Illawarra 19 58 75 77% 17 David NOFOALUMA Wests Tigers 19 17 - - 68 7 Shaun JOHNSON Cronulla 16 56 73 77% 18 Sione KATOA Cronulla 18 15 1 - 62 8 Mitchell MOSES Parramatta 16 45 56 80% 19 Josh ADDO-CARR Melbourne 18 15 - - 60 9 Kalyn PONGA Newcastle 17 43 67 64% 20 Alex JOHNSTON South Sydney 18 15 - - 60 10 Reuben GARRICK Manly Warringah 16 39 54 72%

14 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 THE FRONT ROW

GAMEROUND 20 MATCH DAYPROGRAM TEAM LISTS · MATCH DETAILS & STATS · PREVIEWS

Thursday Saturday Sunday

Broncos Bulldogs v Cowboys v Panthers Suncorp ANZ Stadium Warriors Friday v Sea Eagles Sharks Central Coast Stadium Titans v Raiders v Knights Netstrata Jubilee Cbus Super

Rabbitohs Tigers Dragons v Roosters v Eels v Storm ANZ Stadium Bankwest Netstrata Jubilee Stadium

WEEKLY TIPS Round 20 Bracketed figures (X/Y): X is correct tips for last round; Y is total correct since Round 3

Andrew Jackson (7/99) Jeff Dickinson-Fox (7/98) Justin Davies (6/91) Hamish Parker (6/90) Tim Costello (5/87) Steven Wiliams (5/82) Broncos Cowboys Cowboys Cowboys Cowboys Cowboys Titans Knights Knights Titans Knights Knights Roosters Roosters Roosters Roosters Roosters Roosters Panthers Panthers Panthers Panthers Panthers Panthers Sharks Sharks Sharks Sharks Raiders Raiders Eels Eels Eels Eels Eels Eels Warriors Sea Eagles Warriors Warriors Warriors Sea Eagles Storm Storm Dragons Storm Storm Dragons

Rick Edgerton (7/99) Josh Robertson (6/97) Sam Bourke (6/91) Rob Crosby (7/88) Adam Huxtable (6/85) Andrew Ferguson (5/82) Cowboys Cowboys Cowboys Cowboys Broncos Cowboys Knights Titans Knights Knights Knights Titans Roosters Roosters Roosters Roosters Roosters Roosters Panthers Panthers Panthers Panthers Panthers Panthers Sharks Raiders Sharks Raiders Sharks Sharks Eels Eels Eels Eels Eels Tigers Warriors Warriors Warriors Warriors Warriors Storm Storm Storm Dragons Storm Dragons Warriors LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 | 15 2020 NRL TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP · ROUND 20

Brisbane North Queensland BRONCOS COWBOYS

P T G Pts P T G Pts

19 2 - 8 Darius BOYD 1 FULLBACK 1 Valentine HOLMES 11 4 211 59 11 5 - 20 Xavier COATES 2 WING 2 Kyle FELDT 19 16 23 110 5 1 0 4 Jesse ARTHARS 3 CENTRE 3 Murray TAULAGI 3 - - - 18 6 3 30 Herbie FARNWORTH 4 CENTRE 4 Daejarn ASI 5 1 - 4 9 3 - 12 Richard KENNAR 5 WING 5 Hamiso TABUAI-FIDOW 13 5 - 20 13 10 17 74 Kotoni STAGGS 6 FIVE-EIGHTH 6 Scott DRINKWATER 15 2 - 8 11 1 - 4 Tom DEARDEN 7 HALFBACK 7 Jake CLIFFORD 13 2 1 10 14 - - - Joe OFAHENGAUE 8 FRONT ROW 8 Josh McGUIRE 16 - - - 14 - - - Issac LUKE 9 HOOKER 9 Reuben COTTER 9 - - - 16 - - - Payne HAAS 10 FRONT ROW 10 Jordan McLEAN 14 - - - 4 1 - 4 Jordan RIKI 11 SECOND ROW 11 Gavin COOPER 14 1 - 4 7 - - - Alex GLENN 12 SECOND ROW 12 Mitchell DUNN 16 1 - 4 18 - - - Patrick CARRIGAN 13 LOCK 13 15 2 - 8

12 1 - 4 Cory PAIX 14 INTERCHANGE 14 10 - - - 15 1 - 4 Ben TE’O 15 15 Thomas GILBERT 11 - - - 13 1 - 4 16 16 7 - - - 11 - - - Jamil HOPOATE 17 17 Francis MOLO 19 3 - 12

13 1 - 4 Rhys KENNEDY 18 RESERVES 18 Emry PERE 2 - - - 8 - - - Ethan BULLEMOR 19 19 Jake GRANVILLE 8 - - - 3 - - - Sean O’SULLIVAN 20 20 Ben CONDON 1 - - - 14 1 - 4 Brodie CROFT 21 21 Justin O’NEILL 16 5 - 20

* includes 3 games for Dragons

Peter GENTLE COACH Josh HANNAY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 PENALTIES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 SCRUMS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

RLP MILESTONES Darius Boyd's 337th and final NRL match will elevate him to outright 9th on the all-time first grade appearances list, ahead of and John Sutton.

16 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 #NRLBroncosCowboys Match Preview MATCH DETAILS with Robert Crosby DATE Thursday 24 September 2020 KICKOFF 7:50pm AEST Seasons of misery come to a close for Broncos, Cowboys VENUE Suncorp Stadium The Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys will face off in the Milton, QLD traditional Queensland derby at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday evening. WATCH Nine Network & 9Now In a year few, if any, could have predicted, it remains to be seen whether the & Kayo Sports Brisbane Broncos have finally hit rock bottom. What can be said with certainty LISTEN ABC Grandstand - it’s hard to imagine how things could get much worse for the club once considered as the benchmark of the league. Triple M SYD, BNE 4BC BNE, NRL Nation Most consecutive losses (10). Most losses in a season (16). Biggest ever loss (59-0). Most points conceded (592). Least points scored (252). Worst points LIVE BLOG LeagueUnlimited.com differential (-340). Baffling recruitment decisions. Horror runs with injury. Underperforming star players. Sacking a coach mid-season. COVID-19 breach notices. Former greats publicly criticising the club. MATCH OFFICIALS Rival supporters may have watched on with schadenfreude earlier in the season, REFEREE Grant ATKINS but following a single win since the COVID resumption - over the lowly Bulldogs - the only feeling left for the club is pity. TOUCH JUDGES Todd SMITH Peter GOUGH Heading into the final round after a 26-12 loss to the Eels last Friday, interim coach Peter Gentle will be hoping the side can avoid the wooden spoon by NRL BUNKER Steve CHIDDY continuing a strong record of five wins from their past six meetings against North Queensland.

Boosted by the return of Payne Haas, Jordan Riki and Jesse Arthars, star centre Kotoni Staggs has been named in the halves for the first time.

Set to make his 337th appearance in the NRL to surpass Brad Fittler and John Sutton as the ninth most-capped player in the history of , Darius Boyd will line up for the final time after a career spanning 15 seasons with Brisbane, St George Illawarra and Newcastle.

Flying largely under the radar despite winning just four matches all year, the North Queensland Cowboys will be determined to finish their dreadful year on a high note. RUGBY LEAGUE project Standing in slightly better stead for the future than their long-time rivals following the appointment of Todd Payten as coach for next year, the Cowboys have appeared off the pace for much of the season. Match Stats Boasting the second worst defence in the league, parting ways with premiership-winning coach Paul Green midway through the year and losing nine-in-a-row between Round 8 - 16, the rare spark of life for the men from HEAD TO HEAD Townsville has been the emergence of young guns Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Tom Gilbert and Daejarn Asi. OVERALL 53 MATCHES Unable to keep up with the Panthers during last Friday’s 32-12 loss at home, Broncos 35 Cowboys 16 Drawn 2 interim coach Josh Hannay will be out to defy a horror record at Suncorp Stadium where the Cowboys have won once in their past ten visits. At Suncorp Stadium: 16 matches, Broncos 11, Cowboys 5 In team news, Daejarn Asi retains his place in the centres after being elevated to the starting side last week, while representative forwards John Asiata and Josh LAST TEN BRONCOS 6-4 McGuire return to the pack from suspension. 2016 R4 Broncos 21-20 Suncorp Finishing as the fourth most-capped player for North Queensland behind 2016 R11 Cowboys 19-18 1300Smiles Johnathan Thurston, Matt Bowen and Matt Scott, premiership-winning second- 2016 SF Cowboys 26-20 1300Smiles rower Gavin Cooper will make his final appearance for the Cowboys before 2017 R2 Cowboys 21-20 Suncorp embarking on a new chapter. 2017 R26 Broncos 20-10 1300Smiles Who to watch: In a year that has provided Brisbane supporters with little 2018 R2 Broncos 24-20 Suncorp respite, the efforts of Patrick Carrigan have been a rare source of solace. 2018 R22 Cowboys 34-30 1300Smiles Regularly tasked with the responsibility of leading the side in the absence 2019 R2 Broncos 29-10 Suncorp of established stars, the 22-year-old lock has stood up with 154 metres and 2019 R21 Broncos 18-14 1300Smiles 45 tackles on average. Touted as a bolter for the post-season Origin series, Carrigan will have no shortage of motivation as the side fights to get off the 2020 R1 Broncos 28-21 QLD Country Bank bottom of the premiership ladder.

Enduring a difficult return to rugby league after an ill-fated attempt at the BIGGEST WINS NFL, Valentine Holmes will be looking to put himself in contention for a place 1998 R5 Broncos 58-4 ANZ (QEII) in the Queensland Origin squad. Missing two months of football during the middle third of the year with an ankle injury, the 25-year-old has shown fleeting 2006 R1 Cowboys 36-4 Suncorp moments of class in recent weeks, most notably nailing a field goal in golden point against the Dragons. With the Maroons facing a dearth of experienced outside backs, Holmes will be out to showcase his skills as a game breaker in the SEASON FORM LINE Queensland derby. BRONCOS 16th, 6pts Favourite: Despite winning just one match away from home all season, the W W L L L L L L W L L L L L L L L L L Cowboys are slight favourites to finish the year on a high.

COWBOYS 14th, 8pts My tip: Having gone 14 seasons without winning anything in the NRL, the Brisbane Broncos will be able to celebrate a deserved addition to their trophy L W W L L L W L L L L L L L L L W L L cabinet on Thursday evening. Cowboys by 6.

LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 | 17 2020 NRL TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP · ROUND 20

Gold Coast Newcastle TITANS KNIGHTS

P T G Pts P T G Pts

8 5 - 20 Alexander BRIMSON 1 FULLBACK 1 Kalyn PONGA 17 10 43 126 15 10 - 40 Anthony DON 2 WING 2 9 5 - 20 15 5 - 20 Brian KELLY 3 CENTRE 3 Enari TUALA 18 11 - 44 9 3 - 12 Young TONUMAIPEA 4 CENTRE 4 Bradman BEST 9 7 - 28 4 1 - 4 Treymain SPRY 5 WING 5 Hymel HUNT 18 6 - 24 18 1 33 70 Ashley TAYLOR 6 FIVE-EIGHTH 6 Mason LINO 4 - 14 28 17 3 8 28 Jamal FOGARTY 7 HALFBACK 7 Mitchell PEARCE 19 2 -1 9 16 1 - 4 Jarrod WALLACE 8 FRONT ROW 8 David KLEMMER 19 - - 0 8 1 - 4 Mitch REIN 9 HOOKER 9 Kurt MANN 18 6 - 24 17 - - - Moeaki FOTUAIKA 10 FRONT ROW 10 Daniel SAIFITI 12 3 - 12 11 3 - 12 Kevin PROCTOR 11 SECOND ROW 11 Sione MATA’UTIA 10 1 - 4 8 3 - 12 Sam STONE 12 SECOND ROW 12 Aidan GUERRA 19 2 - 8 19 1 - 4 13 LOCK 13 Mitchell BARNETT 11 1 - 4

12 1 - 4 Tanah BOYD 14 INTERCHANGE 14 Chris RANDALL 5 - - 0 17 1 - 4 Sam LISONE 15 15 Jacob SAIFITI 19 3 - 12 17 - - - Jai ARROW 16 16 Herman ESE’ESE 19 1 - 4 8 - - - Jai WHITBREAD 17 17 Brodie JONES 6 - - 0

- - - - Darius FARMER 18 RESERVES 18 Josh KING 7 1 - 4 14 5 - 20 Corey THOMPSON 19 19 Gehamat SHIBASAKI 11 5 - 20 13 7 - 28 Phillip SAMI 20 20 Starford TOA 7 4 - 16 8 - - - 21 21 Jirah MOMOISEA - - - -

Justin HOLBROOK COACH Adam O’BRIEN

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 PENALTIES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 SCRUMS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

RLP MILESTONES Aidan GUERRA (Knights) - 4 more points for 200 career points

18 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 #NRLTitansKnights Match Preview MATCH DETAILS with Andrew Jackson DATE Friday 25 September 2020 KICKOFF 6:00pm AEST Titans look to set records as Knights hope to secure home final. VENUE Cbus Super Stadium Robina, QLD A top-eight finish may be out of sight for the Titans in 2020 but from the WATCH Fox League & Kayo Sports outside looking in, it was never a realistic goal. LISTEN ABC Grandstand Triple M SYD, BNE Most had Justin Holbrook’s men once again dwindling down the bottom of NRL Nation the ladder with the arrivals of big-name recruits next season being the lone LIVE BLOG LeagueUnlimited.com positive to take out of an otherwise listless season.

Instead, Holbrook has instilled a resilience that has been severely lacking in MATCH OFFICIALS this Gold Coast side. He has also seemingly started to unlock the enormous REFEREE Chris SUTTON potential of million-dollar halfback Ashley Taylor. TOUCH JUDGES Liam KENNEDY Drew OULTRAM By handing Jamal Fogarty not only an NRL lifeline but the captaincy too, he NRL BUNKER Jared MAXWELL has uncovered a genuinely passionate leader capable of making the Gold Coast a desirable location.

The issue has always been attracting big names. But with David Fifita, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Herman Ese’ese on the move, this is a Titans side that is on the rise.

With four-straight wins to their name, it will only build even more confidence heading forward if the Gold Coast topple Newcastle this week.

The Knights put a disappointing performance against the Roosters behind RUGBY LEAGUE them last round to flog the lowly Dragons. project They’ll face a much sterner test against the fast-improving Titans though. Match Stats The big incentive for Newcastle is a home final. The Rabbitohs aren’t likely to beat the Roosters anyway but in the off chance HEAD TO HEAD they do, a loss on Friday would see the Knights forced to travel to Homebush OVERALL 22 MATCHES as opposed to staying put in the Hunter. Titans 10 Knights 12 Mason Lino has been retained in the halves this week while in a huge boost Edrick Lee and Bradman Best make their returns just in time for the finals. At Cbus Super Stadium: 9 matches, Titans 5, Knights 4 Who to watch: While most of the focus heading into next year is placed on LAST TEN 5-ALL the Gold Coast’s big-name recruits, they also have plenty of talent externally. 2015 R3 Knights 20-18 Cbus Super 2015 R19 Knights 30-2 Hunter Alexander Brimson in particular has taken his involvement to another level. 2016 R1 Titans 30-12 Cbus Super With a locked down spot in the No. 1 jersey, Brimson has thrived – averaging 2016 R24 Titans 26-6 Hunter 48 more running metres while he also has more try assists, linebreak assists 2017 R2 Knights 34-26 McDonald Jones and linebreaks despite playing 13 fewer games. 2017 R9 Titans 38-8 Cbus Super 2018 R11 Titans 33-26 Cbus Super 2018 R19 Knights 30-24 McDonald Jones The Knights could look to the Titans for inspiration to one of their biggest 2019 R6 Titans 38-14 Cbus Super flaws heading into the finals. 2019 R24 Knights 38-4 McDonald Jones Against the tough teams, Newcastle have a tendency to be overreliant BIGGEST WINS on Kalyn Ponga to spark their attack. It makes sense given he is their 2017 R9 Titans 38-8 Cbus Super most dangerous player. Unlike Brimson who chimes in and out, Ponga is 2019 R24 Knights 38-4 McDonald Jones constantly fed the ball (he averages 42 possessions per game compared to 30) on expectations he will create points. The Knights could better use him as a decoy to draw defenders in and build uncertainty. SEASON FORM LINE TITANS 9th, 16pts Favourite: The Knights are backed to carry momentum into the finals. L L L W L L W L W L L L W L L W W W W

KNIGHTS 6th, 23pts My tip: Even though they are out of finals contention, I get the sense the W W D W L W L W L W L L W W W L W L W Titans will lift for the chance to prove themselves against a top-eight side. Titans by 7. LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 | 19 2020 NRL TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP · ROUND 20

South Sydney Sydney RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

P T G Pts P T G Pts 6 2 - 8 Corey ALLAN 1 FULLBACK 1 James TEDESCO 16 8 - 32 18 15 - 60 Alex JOHNSTON 2 WING 2 Daniel TUPOU 12 10 - 40 18 12 - 48 Campbell GRAHAM 3 CENTRE 3 Josh MORRIS 16* 8 - 32 15 10 - 40 Dane GAGAI 4 CENTRE 4 Mitchell AUBUSSON 14 5 - 20 9 2 - 8 Jaxson PAULO 5 WING 5 Brett MORRIS 15 12 - 48 17 7 - 28 Cody WALKER 6 FIVE-EIGHTH 6 Luke KEARY 17 10 -2 42 19 6 731 171 Adam REYNOLDS 7 HALFBACK 7 Kyle FLANAGAN 17 4 84 184 15 - - - Liam KNIGHT 8 FRONT ROW 8 Jared WAEREA-HARGREAVES 15 1 - 4 19 3 - 12 Damien COOK 9 HOOKER 9 Jake FRIEND 17 1 - 4 19 2 - 8 Thomas BURGESS 10 FRONT ROW 10 17 1 3 10 2 - - - Jed CARTWRIGHT 11 SECOND ROW 11 Boyd CORDNER 10 2 - 8 15 1 - 4 Bayley SIRONEN 12 SECOND ROW 12 Sitili TUPOUNIUA 17 5 - 20 19 2 - 8 Cameron MURRAY 13 LOCK 13 Angus CRICHTON 12 4 - 16

15 2 - 8 Mark NICHOLLS 14 INTERCHANGE 14 Lachlan LAM 6 - - - 8 - - - Hame SELE 15 15 14 - - - 12 - - - Patrick MAGO 16 16 Nat BUTCHER 16 1 - 4 10 - - - Keaon KOLOAMATANGI 17 17 Sonny Bill WILLIAMS 3 - - -

17 1 - 4 Tevita TATOLA 18 RESERVES 18 Matt IKUVALU 9 7 - 28 2 - - - Jack JOHNS 19 19 Daniel SULUKA-FIFITA 4 - - - 2 - - - Troy DARGAN 20 20 Freddy LUSSICK 4 ------Cory DENNISS 21 21 5 - - -

* includes 2 games for Sharks

Wayne BENNETT COACH Trent ROBINSON

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 PENALTIES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 SCRUMS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

RLP MILESTONES Dane GAGAI (Rabbitohs) - 200th NRL match; Cody WALKER (Rabbitohs) - 1 more try for 50 club and career tries

20 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 #NRLSouthsRoosters MATCH DETAILS Match Preview DATE Friday 25 September 2020 with Robert Crosby KICKOFF 7:55pm AEST Foundation foes face off in finals prelude VENUE ANZ Stadium Sydney Olympic Park, NSW Finals football arrives a week early on Friday night as the seventh-placed WATCH Nine Network & 9Now South Sydney Rabbitohs host the third-placed Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium. Fox League & Kayo Sports LISTEN ABC Grandstand Relying on favourable results to secure a home ground advantage in the 2GB SYD, 4BC BNE opening week of the finals, the South Sydney Rabbitohs will be out to atone for a shock loss last week. LIVE BLOG LeagueUnlimited.com Becoming only the third team to lose to the Bulldogs all year following a 26- 16 defeat at home, coach Wayne Bennett will know prior to kick-off whether MATCH OFFICIALS the Rabbitohs are in contention to secure a home final with the Knights REFEREE Gerard SUTTON facing the Titans earlier in the evening. TOUCH JUDGES Chris BUTLER Needing to defeat the reigning premiers and hope the Knights lose to Dave MUNRO secure sixth position, the mistakes of last week look set to thrust the NRL BUNKER Ashley KLEIN Rabbitohs into a hostile Elimination Final in Newcastle next week. Holding a fierce rivalry against the Roosters dating back more than a century, the Rabbitohs have enjoyed a number of competitive clashes over the decade with ten wins from their past 21 meetings.

Recalling speedster Dane Gagai to the centres for his 200th NRL appearance, Patrick Mago comes into the side after Jadyn Su’A accepted a one-match ban for a careless high tackle.

Guaranteed to finish in the top four irrespective of the result on Friday night, the Sydney Roosters will be looking to build momentum with their sixth straight win.

RUGBY LEAGUE Unable to finish higher than third after downing the Sharks 34-18 last project Saturday, a win would see the reigning premiers face the Storm in a Qualifying Final at Suncorp Stadium next week. In the worse case scenario the side could finish fourth should they lose and the Eels triumph over the Match Stats Tigers. Returning to ANZ Stadium for the first time since last year’s Grand Final, HEAD TO HEAD the Roosters have thrived at the Homebush venue winning 16 out of 22 OVERALL 223 MATCHES appearances during coach Trent Robinson’s tenure. Boosted by the return of James Tedesco, Jake Friend, Sio Siua Taukieaho Rabbitohs 115 Roosters 103 Drawn 5 and Boyd Cordner after a week off, the final 17 may differ from the team At ANZ Stadium: 15 matches, Rabbitohs 6, Roosters 9 named on Tuesday given Trent Robinson’s history of resting players on the eve of the finals.

LAST TEN ROOSTERS 7-3 Who to watch: Managing one match in the past five weeks due to injury 2016 R6 Roosters 17-10 ANZ and suspension, speedster Dane Gagai will be hoping to mark his latest 2017 R4 Roosters 20-6 ANZ milestone with a win. Losing his debut, 50th, 100th and 150th matches in 2017 R18 Roosters 14-12 Allianz the NRL, the 29-year-old will be determined to defy history in his 200th 2018 R6 Rabbitohs 26-14 Allianz appearance and put the Rabbitohs back on track heading towards the 2018 R22 Roosters 18-14 ANZ finals. Failing to score a try against the Roosters in 14 previous meetings 2018 PF Roosters 12-4 Allianz throughout his career, Gagai will achieve a season best strike rate should he 2019 R1 Rabbitohs 26-16 SCG cross for a four-pointer on Friday evening. 2019 R25 Rabbitohs 16-10 ANZ 2019 QF Roosters 30-6 SCG Having shown plenty of promise since coming into the top grade two years ago, second-rower Sitili Tupouniua has enjoyed a breakout season for the 2020 R3 Roosters 28-12 Bankwest Tricolours in 2020. Running for 76 metres to go with 25 tackles on average, the 23-year-old Tongan representative will be determined to prove he belongs in the premiers’ best 17 during the business end of the season. BIGGEST WINS Facing the possibility of being overlooked following the return of several 1952 R8 Rabbitohs 50-0 SSG established stars and the form of fellow emerging forward Lindsay Collins, 1996 R6 Roosters 62-0 SFS look for Tupouniua to make his presence felt with a strong showing on the right edge.

SEASON FORM LINE Favourite: Eyeing off three consecutive wins over their rivals for the first RABBITOHS 7th, 22pts time since 2017, the Roosters are expected to head into the finals in W L L L W W L W W L L W W W W W L W L winning form.

ROOSTERS 3rd, 28pts My tip: Coming into the final round following five straight wins, the L L W W W W W L W L W W W L W W W W W Roosters should have too much class for an improved Rabbitohs side. Roosters by 8. LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 | 21 2020 NRL TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP · ROUND 20

Canterbury-Bankstown Penrith BULLDOGS PANTHERS

P T G Pts P T G Pts 12 2 - 8 1 FULLBACK 1 Daine LAURIE 2 - - - 17 2 - 8 Dallin WATENE-ZELEZNIAK 2 WING 2 Josh MANSOUR 18 9 - 36 13 4 - 16 Reimis SMITH 3 CENTRE 3 Tyrone MAY 12 - - - 7* 2 1 10 Tim LAFAI 4 CENTRE 4 Brent NADEN 15 10 - 40 2 1 - 4 Jayden OKUNBOR 5 WING 5 Brian TO’O 12 5 - 20 13 3 12 36 Jake AVERILLO 6 FIVE-EIGHTH 6 Jarome LUAI 19 7 - 28 13 3 - 12 Lachlan LEWIS 7 HALFBACK 7 Nathan CLEARY 17 4 713 161 17 2 - 8 Aiden TOLMAN 8 FRONT ROW 8 James TAMOU 18 - - - 19 1 - 4 Jeremy MARSHALL-KING 9 HOOKER 9 Apisai KOROISAU 16 3 - 12 9 - - - Luke THOMPSON 10 FRONT ROW 10 James FISHER-HARRIS 18 - - - 2 1 - 4 Chris SMITH 11 SECOND ROW 11 Kurt CAPEWELL 5 2 - 8 19 6 - 24 Raymond FAITALA-MARINER 12 SECOND ROW 12 Liam MARTIN 17 5 - 20 19 1 - 4 Josh JACKSON 13 LOCK 13 Isaah YEO 19 2 - 8

9 - 4 8 Brandon WAKEHAM 14 INTERCHANGE 14 Matt BURTON 4 2 - 8 15 1 - 4 Renouf TO’OMAGA 15 15 Spencer LENIU 11 - - - 9 - - - Sione KATOA 16 16 Moses LEOTA 19 - - - 14 - - - 17 17 Zane TETEVANO 15 - - -

10 - - - Dean BRITT 19 RESERVES 18 Mitchell KENNY 5 - - - 4 - - - 20 19 8 ------Tuipulotu KATOA 21 20 Jack HETHERINGTON 8 - - - 10 2 4 16 Kerrod HOLLAND 22 21 Billy BURNS 10 2 - 8

* includes 2 games for Dragons

Steve GEORGALLIS COACH Ivan CLEARY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 PENALTIES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 SCRUMS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

RLP MILESTONES Will HOPOATE (Bulldogs) - 100th Bulldogs match; Josh JACKSON (Bulldogs) - 4 more points for 100 club and career points

22 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 #NRLBulldogsPanthers Match Preview MATCH DETAILS with Emile El-Azar DATE Saturday 26 September 2020 KICKOFF 3:00pm AEST Canterbury-Bankstown look to end a forgettable 2020 on a high, VENUE ANZ Stadium clashing with Minor Premiers Penrith, who have a premiership in their Sydney Olympic Park, NSW sights, at ANZ Stadium on Saturday afternoon. WATCH Fox League & Kayo Sports LISTEN ABC Grandstand Let’s call this the Trent Barrett Cup, as the Panthers assistant coach continues his preparations to take over at Belmore in 2021. Triple M SYD, BNE NRL Nation The Bulldogs head into this clash on the back of their best performance of LIVE BLOG LeagueUnlimited.com the season, knocking off South Sydney in the upset of the season. Racking up a 20-0 lead by the half-hour mark, they showed some rare composure to hold on to defeat the Rabbitohs 26-16. MATCH OFFICIALS REFEREE Henry PERENARA Coach Steve Georgallis has named an almost unchanged side for this week, TOUCH JUDGES Jon STONE with the only change to be confirmed after Tim Lafai copped a one match suspension on Tuesday night. Club stalwart Aidan Tolman plays his final Gavin BADGER final game for the club. NRL BUNKER Steve CHIDDY The Panthers continue their careful preparation for the finals, with Dylan Edwards, Stephen Crichton and Viliame Kikau all being rested for this week.

James Tamou, Api Koroisau and Zane Tetevano come back into the side after missing last week’s professional win over the Cowboys. Daine Laurie, Matt Burton and Zane Tetevano also come into the Panthers side.

Penrith will be looking to fine tune their attack and defence in the lead in RUGBY LEAGUE to the finals series, whilst the Bulldogs will know if they have to get a win or project not to avoid the wooden spoon by the time 3pm Saturday comes around. Who to watch: Luke Thompson had his first game at prop for the Bulldogs Match Stats last week, and showed plenty of grunt. With 13 runs, 132 metres, and 70 post-contact metres in his 55 minutes HEAD TO HEAD on the field, another week playing in his preferred position will do him the OVERALL 95 MATCHES world of good, as he finds his feet in the NRL. Bulldogs 53 Panthers 39 Drawn 3 Panthers winger Brian To’o has scored a try in 3 of the last 4 games, and he’ll At ANZ Stadium: 15 matches, Bulldogs 6, Panthers 8, Drawn 1 look to add to that tally this week, his battle with Jayden Okunbor sure to be an intriguing one.

LAST TEN 5-ALL Favourite: Penrith are top of the pile, the Bulldogs are clinging for dear life 2014 PF Bulldogs 18-12 ANZ in second last. 2015 R1 Panthers 24-18 Panthers 2015 R15 Bulldogs 24-12 ANZ My tip: These final round matches always throw up something strange, 2016 R2 Bulldogs 18-16 Panthers however I think the Bulldogs used up their “massive upset” ticket on the 2016 QF Panthers 28-12 Allianz Souths game last week. 2017 R13 Panthers 38-0 ANZ 2017 R21 Panthers 16-8 Panthers I expect a professional 80 minute performance from a Penrith side with 2018 R3 Bulldogs 20-18 ANZ bigger fish to fry in 2020. Penrith by 18. 2018 R8 Panthers 22-14 Panthers 2019 R20 Bulldogs 16-8 Bankwest

BIGGEST WINS 1980 R3 Bulldogs 40-14 Penrith 2001 R18 Bulldogs 40-14 Sydney Showground 2004 R21 Bulldogs 46-20 Telstra 2017 R13 Panthers 38-0 ANZ Follow us Twitter, Facebook, Instagram SEASON FORM LINE BULLDOGS 15th, 6pts L L L W L L L L L L W L L L L L L L W @LeagueUnlimited PANTHERS 1st, 35pts W W D W L W W W W W W W W W W W W W W

LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 | 23 2020 NRL TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP · ROUND 20

Cronulla-Sutherland Canberra SHARKS RAIDERS

P T G Pts P T G Pts 15 3 - 12 William KENNEDY 1 FULLBACK 1 Adam COOK - - - - 1 1 - 4 2 WING 2 Semi VALEMEI 6 4 - 16 1 1 - 4 3 CENTRE 3 Matthew TIMOKO 1 - - - 18 8 - 32 Jesse RAMIEN 4 CENTRE 4 Harley SMITH-SHIELDS 1 - - - 14 10 - 40 Ronaldo MULITALO 5 WING 5 Nick COTRIC 19 11 - 44 17 3 - 12 Wade GRAHAM 6 FIVE-EIGHTH 6 - - - - 14 4 - 16 7 HALFBACK 7 Sam WILLIAMS - - - - 19 6 - 24 Braden HAMLIN-UELE 8 FRONT ROW 8 Dunamis LUI 16 1 - 4 19 3 - 12 Blayke BRAILEY 9 HOOKER 9 Tom STARLING 10 3 - 12 19 1 - 4 Aaron WOODS 10 FRONT ROW 10 Iosia SOLIOLA 8 1 - 4 14 4 - 16 Briton NIKORA 11 SECOND ROW 11 Hudson YOUNG 14 4 - 16 15 4 - 16 Siosifa TALAKAI 12 SECOND ROW 12 Corey HARAWIRA-NAERA 7 - - - 19 1 - 4 Toby RUDOLF 13 LOCK 13 19 - - -

12 - - - Scott SORENSEN 14 INTERCHANGE 14 Kai O’DONNELL 3 - - - 15 2 - 8 Jack WILLIAMS 15 15 Ryan SUTTON 15 - - - 10 1 - 4 Andrew FIFITA 16 16 Darby MEDLYN - - - - 4 - - - Teig WILTON 17 17 Jarrett SUBLOO - - - -

2 1 - 4 18 RESERVES 18 Ata MARIOTA - - - - 4 - 4 8 Braydon TRINDALL 19 19 Joseph TAPINE 18 2 - 8 6 3 1 14 Bryson GOODWIN 20 20 Jack WIGHTON 19 10 - 40 - - - - Daniel VASQUEZ 21 21 Elliott WHITEHEAD 19 4 - 16

John MORRIS COACH Ricky STUART

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 PENALTIES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 SCRUMS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

RLP MILESTONES T

24 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 #NRLSharksRaiders Match Preview MATCH DETAILS with Jason Hosken DATE Saturday 26 September 2020 KICKOFF 5:30pm AEST Raiders must beat Sharks then rely on others for a top-four miracle VENUE Netstrata Jubilee Stadium Carlton, NSW Victory over the Cronulla Sharks on Saturday evening will see the Canberra Raiders sneak into the top-four, but it may only be a fleeting visit if the Parramatta Eels WATCH Fox League & Kayo Sports dispose of the Wests Tigers in the final match of the evening. LISTEN ABC Grandstand 2GB SYD / 4BC BNE Sitting two points adrift of Parramatta in fifth place but with a superior 18-point differential, win number eight on the road by the Raiders will up the ante on the Eels’ Mix 106.3 Canberra quest for a finals double dip. LIVE BLOG LeagueUnlimited.com It’s a simpler story for the Cronulla Sharks who will retain eighth place regardless of the round 20 washup. But if this weekend's favourites have it all their own way then John Morris and Ricky Stuart will meet again, one week later, in an eliminator in the MATCH OFFICIALS nation’s capital. REFEREE Ashley KLEIN TOUCH JUDGES Todd SMITH Canberra scored some memorable tries in last week’s win over the Warriors at GIO Stadium but the slow start would have concerned Stuart. With a 45 per cent share of Phil HENDERSON possession, a distracted Green Machine were their own worst enemy in a contest that NRL BUNKER Jared MAXWELL could have easily gone down to the wire if not for some fortuitous outcomes against the run of play.

Now resting up to nine players this weekend, Stuart has seemingly put the cue in the rack, content to launch the Raiders’ tilt for a consecutive grand final appearance from home soil in fifth place.

Canberra young guns Adam Cook, Darby Medlyn and Jarrett Subloo will each make their NRL debut with former Bulldog Matt Frawley named to make his club debut. And with Jack Wighton and George Williams joining leaders Josh Papalii and Jarrod Croker on the sidelines, Sam Williams returns as captain in his first appearance of the season.

Other changes include the selection of new centres Harley Smith-Shields and RUGBY LEAGUE Matt Timoko, while Sia Soliola returns from injury to join Hudson Young and Corey project Harawira-Naera in the pack. John Bateman is out and Elliott Whitehead moves to an extended bench. Match Stats Last week the Sharks were at the mercy of the Roosters long before Shaun Johnson’s Achilles let go at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Already missing key personnel and yet HEAD TO HEAD to claim a top-eight scalp this season, Cronulla were no match in elite company. And while Morris is no stranger to new halves combinations, the Johnston loss OVERALL 73 MATCHES couldn't have come at a worse time. Well below his best in the Sharks’ week-1 exit in 2019, the former Warrior had found his groove with an unparalleled 23 try assists Sharks 39 Raiders 34 after 19 rounds. With the suspended Chad Townsend still a week away, skipper Wade At Netstrata Jubilee Stadium: first meeting at this venue Graham makes his return alongside Connor Treacy in the halves. Sione Katoa and Josh Dugan are other high profile omissions, replaced by winger LAST TEN SHARKS 6-4 Nene Macdonald and centre Mawene Hiroti. Forward Teig Wilton has been named on 2015 R19 Sharks 21-20 GIO the interchange in place of the injured Royce Hunt. 2016 R7 Sharks 40-16 GIO Who to watch: With Johnson’s season over, Townsend suspended and 2016 R22 Raiders 30-14 SC Group unlikely to return, the Sharks ship is now Connor Tracey’s. Despite playing behind 2016 FN Sharks 16-14 GIO a list of established names, last week the Sharks junior and former Rabbitoh racked 2017 R2 Sharks 42-16 GIO up his 14th appearance of the season. Never short of confidence, expect Tracey’s 2017 R22 Raiders 30-12 SC Group acceleration to challenge the inexperienced Raiders while Graham’s deft ball play 2018 R10 Sharks 24-16 GIO targets the fringes. 2018 R19 Sharks 28-24 PointsBet 2019 R14 Raiders 22-20 GIO Despite missing the Raiders’ 2019 finals campaign and the opening five rounds of 2020 due to suspension, Stuart’s high praise for Hudson Young never wavered. Now 2019 R24 Raiders 15-14 PointsBet with 14 consecutive appearances under his belt , the 22-year-old from Maitland is a key part of the coach’s interchange puzzle. Capable of 80 minutes and always good for 30-plus tackles, now with four tries in five weeks, the probing backrower is one to BIGGEST WINS watch from close range. 1982 R10 Sharks 44-5 Seiffert 1994 R16 Raiders 56-12 Bruce Favourite: The last time these sides met doubled as Paul Gallen’s last on home turf. In what became a shootout, former Raider ’s third field goal - kicked in extra time, ruined the Sharks’ party. Now a year on, Cronulla are favoured to reverse SEASON FORM LINE the result. SHARKS 8th, 20pts L L L L W L W W W L W W W L W L W L W L My tip: Little has separated Cronulla and Canberra in recent seasons with the past four split down the middle. With three of those decided by two points or less, another RAIDERS 5th, 26pts cliffhanger wouldn’t surprise. The Raiders are barely recognisable and the Sharks have their own concerns, but with a home final on the cards and the exuberance of W W W L W L L W L W W W L W W W L W W youth, watch for the Raiders to outlast a contented Sharks outfit.Raiders by 2.

LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 | 25 2020 NRL TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP · ROUND 20 WESTS Parramatta TIGERS EELS

P T G Pts P T G Pts

19 6 14 52 Adam DOUEIHI 1 FULLBACK 1 Clinton GUTHERSON 19 7 121 53 19 17 - 68 David NOFOALUMA 2 WING 2 Maika SIVO 19 14 - 56 11 6 - 24 Tommy TALAU 3 CENTRE 3 Michael JENNINGS 19 7 - 28 12 - - - Chris LAWRENCE 4 CENTRE 4 19 6 - 24 4 3 - 12 Asu KEPAOA 5 WING 5 Blake FERGUSON 18 2 - 8 15 2 141 37 Benji MARSHALL 6 FIVE-EIGHTH 6 Jai FIELD 6 3 - 12 16 3 -1 13 Luke BROOKS 7 HALFBACK 7 Mitchell MOSES 16 3 451 103 5 1 - 4 8 FRONT ROW 8 Reagan CAMPBELL-GILLARD 19 1 - 4 14 3 - 12 Harry GRANT 9 HOOKER 9 Reed MAHONEY 18 2 - 8 17 - - - Thomas MIKAELE 10 FRONT ROW 10 Junior PAULO 19 - - 0 16 6 - 24 Luke GARNER 11 SECOND ROW 11 Shaun LANE 19 2 - 8 19 6 - 24 Luciano LEILUA 12 SECOND ROW 12 Ryan MATTERSON 16 3 - 12 11 - - - Alex TWAL 13 LOCK 13 Nathan BROWN 15 - - 0

13 1 - 4 Matt EISENHUTH 14 INTERCHANGE 14 Will SMITH 2 - - 0 10 - - - 15 15 7 - - 0 4 - - - Shawn BLORE 16 16 Kane EVANS 13 4 - 16 8 - - - Michael CHEE-KAM 17 17 Oregon KAUFUSI 12 - - 0

4 - - - Alex SEYFARTH 18 RESERVES 18 Haze DUNSTER - - - - 6 1 - 4 Jacob LIDDLE 19 19 Brad TAKAIRANGI 8 - - 0 10 1 - 4 Josh REYNOLDS 20 20 George JENNINGS 7 3 - 12 14 4 - 16 Joseph LEILUA 21 21 7 - - 0

Michael MAGUIRE COACH

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 PENALTIES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 SCRUMS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

RLP MILESTONES Adam DOUEIHI (Tigers) - 50th NRL match; Clint GUTHERSON (Eels) - 7 more points for 300 club points; Mitchell MOSES (Eels) - 12 more points for 700 career points

26 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 #NRLTigersEels Match Preview MATCH DETAILS with Lachy MacCorquodale DATE Saturday 26 September 2020 KICKOFF 7:35pm AEST The Parramatta Eels take on rivals, the Wests Tigers as they aim to secure a spot VENUE Bankwest Stadium in the top four. Parramatta, NSW A win for the fourth placed Parramatta Eels will secure the club a spot in the top four WATCH Fox League & Kayo Sports for the second time over the past four seasons. LISTEN ABC Grandstand Awaiting them is the out of form Wests Tigers, who host them at Bankwest Stadium. 2GB SYD, 4BC BNE Parramatta will hardly feel like the away team for this fixture and will expect to take the two points from the Tigers just as they did at this venue in round 11 earlier this LIVE BLOG LeagueUnlimited.com year.

The Eels have won three of their last six matches, failing to win back to back games in the process. They are coming off a convincing 14-point win over the Brisbane MATCH OFFICIALS Broncos on Friday night. REFEREE Ben CUMMINS TOUCH JUDGES Ziggy PRZEKLASA-ADAMSKI Brad Arthur’s men will come into this fixture against the struggling Tigers with the upmost confidence and it’ll be a game in which the Eels can get their attack firing Belinda SHARPE before finals. The Eels have only managed to score over 20 points in two of their last NRL BUNKER Steve CHIDDY eight fixtures, in fact, it’s been a weakness of the side for majority of the season. Parramatta have only scored more than 20 points on seven occasions this season and their points scored total of 364 is the lowest out of all the teams in the top eight.

They have relied on their defence to get them through the tough games this season but they’ll get a chance to pile on some points on Saturday night if they can get their attack firing.

The Eels have named the same 17 players to play this weekend, with the only changes to the team sheet involve Junior Paulo and Shaun Lane moving back into the starting 13 whilst Kane Evans and Andrew Davey return to the bench.

The Wests Tigers suffered a heavy 28-point defeat to the Melbourne Storm on Saturday. The Tigers conceded a massive 50 points, which extends their streak of conceding 26 points or more to nine games. The stats that are very representative of the Tigers season are their points for and against totals. The Tigers have scored 416 points, the fifth highest tally in the competition, however, they have also conceded a RUGBY LEAGUE whopping 477 points, the third most in the competition to date. project Defence has been the biggest weakness in the Tigers game this year and it is something that Michael Maguire is trying to improve, highlighted by dropping Joseph Leilua for the match this weekend. Leilua made a few bad reads in defence on Match Stats the weekend which led to tries and has a reputation of being a lazy defender, so we’ll see if his exclusion does have any effect on how the Tigers defend on Saturday night.

HEAD TO HEAD Leilua is replaced by Tommy Talau in the centres whilst Luke Brooks returns from suspension in place of Josh Reynolds. Alex Twal returns at lock pushing Matt OVERALL 40 MATCHES Eisenhuth to the bench, Thomas Mikaele and Luke Garner start at prop and second row respectively replacing both Josh Aloiai and Sam McIntyre who miss out with Tigers 15 Eels 24 Drawn 1 injuries. Elijah Taylor, Shawn Blore and Michael Chee Kam join the bench with Russell At Bankwest Stadium: 3 matches, Tigers 0, Eels 3 Packer and Jacob Liddle dropping out of the 17. Who to watch: The battle of the halves will light up the television screen on Saturday night. Points are expected to flow following the recent form of the Tigers past three LAST TEN EELS 8-2 matches which have seen 50 points or more scored. Former Tiger, Mitchell Moses will 2015 R17 Eels 28-16 ANZ line up at halfback for the Eels and albeit having a relatively quiet year in comparison 2016 R4 Eels 8-0 ANZ to his stellar season in 2019, he will have to step up as Dylan Brown misses another 2016 R21 Tigers 23-8 ANZ week with injury. The 26-year-old half has provided his side with six try assists this season whilst forcing a whopping 20 drop outs. Moses provided two try assists in 2017 R7 Eels 26-22 ANZ their win against the Broncos and surpassed 100 run metres for the third time this 2017 R20 Eels 17-16 ANZ season. 2018 R4 Tigers 30-20 ANZ 2018 R8 Eels 24-22 ANZ In his final game in an orange, black and white jersey, Benji Marshall will be motivated to put in a stellar performance against the Eels. It’ll be the former New 2019 R6 Eels 51-6 Bankwest Zealand internationals 257th game for the Wests Tigers and he’ll be sure to add to his 2019 R17 Eels 30-18 Bankwest 17 try assists that he’s recorded this season. This includes a whopping total of 10 try 2020 R11 Eels 26-16 Bankwest assists in his last six outings. Providing tries seems to be no issue for Marshall who in 2012 record an incredible 35 try assists, but it has been the other side of the game that has lacked throughout his career. Marshall has struggled defensively this season and when paired next to Joseph Leilua it’s not a pretty sight for Tigers fans. Despite BIGGEST WINS his defensive deficiencies, Benji Marshall deserves one last all-star performance in 2001 R11 Eels 66-12 Leichhardt the orange, black and white. 2004 R12 Tigers 33-6 Leichhardt Favourite: Parramatta head into this fixture as the favourites and will be expecting to win as they did earlier in the season. The last four matches involving these sides SEASON FORM LINE have been won by Parramatta, including their massive 45-point victory at Bankwest TIGERS 10th, 14pts Stadium last year. W L W L L W W L L W L L L W L L W L L My tip: Parramatta have more to play for out of the two sides with a top four spot beckoning. On paper the Eels should have this comfortably, but it’s the EELS 4th, 28pts unpredictability of the Tigers that could make this an interesting match. Despite it being Benji Marshall’s last game for the Tigers I expect the Eels to secure their top W W W W W L W W W L W W W L W L W L W four spot. Eels by 14.

LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 | 27 2020 NRL TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP · ROUND 20

Manly-Warringah WARRIORS SEA EAGLES

P T G Pts P T G Pts 17 8 - 32 Peta HIKU 1 FULLBACK 1 11 5 - 20 12 5 1 22 Adam POMPEY 2 WING 2 2 - - - 2 - - - Adam KEIGHRAN 3 CENTRE 3 Brad PARKER 18 3 - 12 6 1 - 4 4 CENTRE 4 Morgan HARPER 4 3 - 12 12 5 3 26 Patrick HERBERT 5 WING 5 Reuben GARRICK 16 3 39 90 18 2 171 43 Kodi NIKORIMA 6 FIVE-EIGHTH 6 19 1 - 4 12 2 23 54 Chanel HARRIS-TAVITA 7 HALFBACK 7 Daly CHERRY-EVANS 19 6 121 49 13 - - - Lachlan BURR 8 FRONT ROW 8 Taniela PASEKA 17 2 - 8 16 2 - 8 9 HOOKER 9 19 2 - 8 14 1 - 4 Isaiah PAPALI’I 10 FRONT ROW 10 Martin TAUPAU 17 2 - 8 12 4 - 16 Eliesa KATOA 11 SECOND ROW 11 Corey WADDELL 12 - - - 19 1 - 4 Tohu HARRIS 12 SECOND ROW 12 Curtis SIRONEN 17 3 - 12 11 1 - 4 13 LOCK 13 Jake TRBOJEVIC 19 2 - 8

18 2 - 8 Wayde EGAN 14 INTERCHANGE 14 Albert HOPOATE 4 - - - 19 - - - Adam BLAIR 15 15 6 - - - 12 3 - 12 Jack MURCHIE 16 16 18 - - - 18 1 - 4 Jamayne TAUNOA-BROWN 17 17 Haumole OLAKAU’ATU 4 1 - 4

3 - - - 18 RESERVES 18 Ben TRBOJEVIC - - - - 1 - - - Paul TURNER 20 19 Luke METCALF - - - - 7 - - - 21 20 - - - - 1 - - - 22 21 Sione FAINU - - - -

Todd PAYTEN COACH

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 PENALTIES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 SCRUMS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

RLP MILESTONES Tohu HARRIS (Warriors) - 50th Warriors match; Gerard BEALE (Warriors) - 8 more points for 200 career points

28 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 #NRLWarriorsManly Match Preview MATCH DETAILS with Adam Huxtable DATE Sunday 27 September 2020 KICKOFF 2:00pm AEST Warriors and Sea Eagles to Each Have One Last Roll of the Dice Before VENUE Central Coast Stadium Mad Monday Gosford, NSW Both these teams have yielded similar outcomes in season 2020, however the WATCH Fox League & Kayo Sports Warriors will be much more satisfied with their ladder position than Manly. LISTEN ABC Grandstand Pre-season, many pundits thought the Warriors would be lucky to avoid the 2GB SYD / 4BC BNE wooden spoon, an opinion which grew in viability once it was announced that kiwi side would have to stay in Australia due to COVID-19. The Warriors LIVE BLOG LeagueUnlimited.com showed a tremendous degree of resilience that has them sitting 12th on the premiership table (equal 10th but down due to for and against) and their MATCH OFFICIALS finals hopes were only dashed a couple of weeks ago. REFEREE Adam GEE 2020 has been a huge disappointment for the Manly Sea Eagles. They were seen by many as a dark horse for the premiership, if not at least making the TOUCH JUDGES Chris SUTTON top 8. Injuries to key players, among other things, has meant that Manly are Drew OULTRAM in 11th position and have only won 2 out of their last 9 matches, a far cry NRL BUNKER Ashley KLEIN from the title contenders they were expected to be. The winner of this clash can finish as high as 9th pending other results, while the loser could sink to 13th. The Warriors will draw confidence from the fact that when these sides met earlier in the year, they were able to grind out a 4-point victory away from home, while Manly have won 2 of their last 3 matches at Central Coast Stadium.

The Warriors will be without inspirational captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck who succumbed to injury last week. He is replaced at the back by Peta Hiku, who last played the custodian role in Round 6 last year. Hayze Perham moves from the wing to the centres and Patrick Herbert is back in the side to accommodate. Eliesa Katoa is back and will start in the back row, pushing Jack Murchie to the bench and Josh Curran out of the side. Jamayne Taunoa- Brown also returns via the interchange, replacing Tom Ale.

RUGBY LEAGUE Tevita Funa is at fullback for the Sea Eagles, replacing Tom Trbojevic who project unfortunately got injured again in his return game. Abbas Miski covers Funa’s wing while Reuben Garrick is back from injury, pushing Albert Hopoate to the bench. Taniela Paseka will move from the bench to the starting side in a direct Match Stats swap with Morgan Boyle, while Bulldogs bound back rower Corey Waddell will start and Jack Gosiewski drops out. Gun Manly front-rower Addin Fonua-Blake signed with the Warriors during the week in an event that could HEAD TO HEAD perhaps increase the feeling in this one. The official reason for Fonua-Blake OVERALL 35 MATCHES moving on was “family reasons,” however there have been some whispers that the Manly playing group think there are more financial motivations at Warriors 11 Sea Eagles 24 play. Unfortunately, Fonua-Blake will miss this one due to injury, but in the At Central Coast Stadium: 1 match, Warriors 0, Sea Eagles 1 corresponding fixture next year look out for the Manly big men to target AFB. Who to watch: Peta Hiku has been picked as the stand in custodian in Roger LAST TEN SEA EAGLES 7-3 Tuivasa-Sheck’s absence, however the New Zealand international isn’t short 2014 R20 Sea Eagles 22-12 Mt Smart on experience playing in the number 1 jumper. He debuted as a fullback with Manly in 2013 and he didn’t do a bad job, guiding the team to a semi-final 2015 R20 Sea Eagles 32-12 Mt Smart victory. Brett Stewart returned for the Grand Final that year, however he had 2016 R6 Sea Eagles 34-18 Mt Smart shown enough to remain in the team at centre for 2014 and 15, where he 2016 R19 Sea Eagles 15-14 nib found a home. Look for Hiku to tap into some of the form that established him 2017 R17 Sea Eagles 26-22 nib as a first grader against his former team. 2017 R25 Sea Eagles 22-21 Mt Smart 2018 R14 Warriors 34-14 Orangetheory Taniela Paseka will start for the Sea Eagles in place of the injured Fonua- 2019 R3 Sea Eagles 46-12 AMI Blake and look to press his claims for the number 8 jersey in 2021. When he 2019 R21 Warriors 24-16 Mt Smart last started for Manly, against the Knights in Round 14, Paseka had 14 runs 2020 R13 Warriors 26-22 Lottoland for an incredible 160 metres while also picking up 3 tackle breaks, a line break and, incredible for a big man, 2 try assists. Manly fans will be hoping Paseka can garner a similar performance and take it to a strong Warriors BIGGEST WINS pack. 1999 R3 Warriors 36-10 Brookvale 2008 R3 Sea Eagles 52-6 Brookvale Favourite: Despite recent form, the Sea Eagles are slight favourites to end 2020 on a high. SEASON FORM LINE My tip: For a team that carried so much expectation this year and finished WARRIORS 12th, 14pts 2019 so strongly, Manly have been nothing short of terrible this season. While L L W L W L L W L L L W W L W W L L L fans and commentators may point to injury as an excuse, the Sea Eagles have only used 27 players in 2020, the second least of any NRL team. Compare them to the Warriors, who couldn’t name 21 fit players last week but have still SEA EAGLES 11th, 14pts looked more promising, and it's clear which team has the higher morale and L W W L W W L L L W W L L L L L L W L better performance, and I’ll be tipping accordingly. Warriors by 8.

LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 | 29 2020 NRL TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP · ROUND 20

St George Illawarra Melbourne DRAGONS STORM

P T G Pts P T G Pts 17 11 - 44 Matthew DUFTY 1 FULLBACK 1 Ryan PAPENHUYZEN 16 7 41 37 1 - - - Max FEAGAI 2 WING 2 Sandor EARL 1 - - 0 16 4 - 16 3 CENTRE 3 - - - - 19 12 58 164 Zac LOMAX 4 CENTRE 4 5 3 - 12 2 2 - 8 Cody RAMSEY 5 WING 5 Isaac LUMELUME 2 - - 0 - - - - Jayden SULLIVAN 6 FIVE-EIGHTH 6 Ryley JACKS 8 1 - 4 14 - - - Adam CLUNE 7 HALFBACK 7 Cooper JOHNS 1 - - 0 19 - - - Blake LAWRIE 8 FRONT ROW 8 Tui KAMIKAMICA 4 1 - 4 17 1 - 4 Cameron McINNES 9 HOOKER 9 Brandon SMITH 14 3 - 12 15 - - - Paul VAUGHAN 10 FRONT ROW 10 Christian WELCH 15 - - 0 19 1 - 4 Tyson FRIZELL 11 SECOND ROW 11 Tom EISENHUTH 12 1 - 4 9 2 - 8 Jacob HOST 12 SECOND ROW 12 Chris LEWIS 4 - - 0 11 - - - Jackson FORD 13 LOCK 13 Max KING 5 - - 0

8 - - - Tariq SIMS 14 INTERCHANGE 14 Nicholas HYNES 8 2 3 14 7 - - - Kaide ELLIS 15 15 Darryn SCHONIG 5 - - 0 19 2 - 8 Josh KERR 16 16 Albert VETE 6 - - 0 - - - - Eddie BLACKER 17 17 Aaron PENE - - - -

5 1 - 4 Brayden WILIAME 18 RESERVES 18 Aaron BOOTH - - - - 18 5 - 20 Corey NORMAN 19 19 Dean IEREMIA - - - - 15 1 - 4 Jordan PEREIRA 20 20 Trent LOIERO - - - - 16 1 - 4 Tyrell FUIMAONO 21 21 Judda TURAHAI - - - -

Dean YOUNG COACH Craig BELLAMY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 PENALTIES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 SCRUMS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

RLP MILESTONES Max KING (Storm) - 50th NRL game

30 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 #NRLDragonsStorm Match Preview MATCH DETAILS with Josh Robertson DATE Sunday 27 September 2020 KICKOFF 4:05pm AEST 159 games will have been played and won and on Sunday afternoon the VENUE Netstrata Jubilee Stadium 160th and final regular season game will see the St George Illawarra Carlton, NSW Dragons take on the Melbourne Storm at WIN Stadium. WATCH Nine Network & 9Now Fox League & Kayo Sports The St George Illawarra Dragons have again had a season to forget as they languish down in 13th spot on the NRL ladder. Last weekend, the Red ‘V’ LISTEN ABC Grandstand didn’t have the best of afternoons in Newcastle when they suffered a 42-18 Triple M SYD / BNE defeat. NRL Nation LIVE BLOG LeagueUnlimited.com All that was wanted by Dragons fans was an improvement in their fortunes which saw them finish down the ladder in 15th spot but despite an improved ladder positions, the Saints have struggled to really put together MATCH OFFICIALS an improved season. The Dragons performance last weekend was a disaster REFEREE Matt CECCHIN class where the Knights were able to run in five converted tries to one in the first half. TOUCH JUDGES Peter GOUGH Liam KENNEDY Dragons interim coach Dean Young has made a couple of changes to NRL BUNKER Henry PERENARA the squad with a completely new halves pairing this weekend with Corey Norman dropped whilst Ben Hunt has been suspended. The new look halves pairing sees Adam Clune return to the side to be partnered with debutant Jayden Sullivan.

The Melbourne Storm have had their usual consistent season which has seen them finish second behind the Penrith Panthers. The Storm who have lost just three games this season took victory last weekend over the Tigers with a 50-22 win.

The Storm have had a good season losing just three games this season RUGBY LEAGUE but have impressed many people with the clinical nature in many of their project victories. Last weekend, the Storm cracked the half century against the Tigers despite some question marks over their defence at times last Match Stats weekend which saw the Wests Tigers run in four tries. Craig Bellamy has wrung the changes with no less than 16 players added HEAD TO HEAD to the squad who didn’t take the field last weekend with 12 players being rested including Cameron Smith, Cameron Munster, Josh Addo-Carr and OVERALL 37 MATCHES Nelson Asofa-Solomona. Although, many key stars are being rested Ryan Dragons 10 Storm 26 Drawn 1 Papenhuyzen returns to the side. At Netstrata Jubilee Stadium: 5 matches, Dragons 2, Storm 3 Who to watch: Rookie half Adam Clune has had a solid start to his career in the halves but leading the attack for the Dragons up against the Storm LAST TEN STORM 7-3 will be his biggest challenge especially as he will be partnering debutant Jayden Sullivan in the halves. Clune will need to take a strong leadership 2014 R6 Storm 28-24 AAMI role as the Storm despite missing key stars will be very tough to break down. 2014 R16 Dragons 24-12 WIN 2015 R1 Storm 12-4 WIN Jubilee Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen comes back into the side after missing 2015 R20 Storm 22-4 McLean Park the past few weeks and immediately picks up the captaincy on his return. 2016 R1 Storm 18-16 AAMI Papenhuyzen has been ultra-important for the Storm this season but 2016 R15 Dragons 20-10 WIN will need to take on a stronger leadership role this weekend against the 2017 R9 Storm 34-22 WIN Dragons. Papenhuyzen will likely take on the role of a third play-maker 2018 R9 Dragons 34-14 Netstrata Jubilee which will be a danger for the Red ‘V’. 2018 R17 Sorm 52-30 AAMI 2019 R16 Storm 16-14 WIN Favourite: The Dragons have been installed as favourites for the clash in which would be due to the Storm resting almost all their key BIGGEST WINS players this weekend. 2000 R5 Storm 70-10 MCG 2000 R18 Dragons 50-4 WIN My tip: Even though they’ve rested all their key players, the Dragons were too bad to ignore last weekend and there is still enough talent in the Melbourne squad to take victory. The Dragons have had almost no-form of SEASON FORM LINE late winning just one of their past five and it will take a lot of improvement DRAGONS 14th, 12pts to get up to a competitive standard. Although the Melbourne side is much L L L L W W L L W W L L L W W L L L L weaker than normal, they still have enough to take victory on Sunday. Storm by 10. STORM 2nd, 32pts W W L W W L W W W W W W W W L W W W

LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 | 31 2020 Draw NRL Telstra Premiership

ROUND 1 MARCH 12-15 ROUND 8 JULY 2-5 Thu 8:05pm Eels v Bulldogs Bankwest 8-2 Thu 7:50pm Storm v Roosters Suncorp 27-25 Fri 6:00pm Raiders v Titans GIO 24-6 Fri 6:00pm Raiders v Dragons GIO 22-16 Fri 8:05pm Cowboys v Broncos Townsville 21-28 Fri 7:55pm Eels v Cowboys Bankwest 42-4 Sat 3:00pm Knights v Warriors MJS 20-0 Sat 3:00pm Titans v Sharks Cbus Super 10-40 Sat 5:30pm Rabbitohs v Sharks ANZ 22-18 Sat 5:30pm Warriors v Broncos Gosford 26-16 Sat 7:35pm Panthers v Roosters Panthers 20-14 Sat 7:35pm Tigers v Panthers Bankwest 12-19 Sun 4:05pm Sea Eagles v Storm Lottoland 4-18 Sun 4:05pm Sea Eagles v Knights Lottoland 12-14 Sun 6:15pm Dragons v Tigers WIN 14-24 Sun 6:30pm Bulldogs v Rabbitohs Bankwest 10-26

ROUND 2 MARCH 19-22 ROUND 9 JULY 9-12 Thu 8:05pm Bulldogs v Cowboys ANZ 16-24 Thu 7:50pm Cowboys v Roosters Townsville 16-42 Fri 6:00pm Dragons v Panthers Kogarah 28-32 Fri 6:00pm Titans v Warriors Cbus Super 16-12 Fri 8:05pm Broncos v Rabbitohs Suncorp 22-18 Fri 7:55pm Rabbitohs v Tigers Bankwest 18-10 Sat 3:00pm Warriors v Raiders Cbus Super 6-20 Sat 3:00pm Sharks v Panthers Kogarah 24-56 Sat 5:30pm Roosters v Sea Eagles Leichhardt 8-9 Sat 5:30pm Broncos v Bulldogs Suncorp 26-8 Sat 7:35pm Sharks v Storm Kogarah 10-12 Sat 7:35pm Raiders v Storm GIO 14-20 Sun 4:05pm Tigers v Knights Leichhardt 24-42 Sun 4:05pm Knights v Eels MJS 4-10 Sun 6:15pm Titans v Eels Cbus Super 6-46 Sun 6:30pm Dragons v Sea Eagles Kogarah 34-4

PREMIERSHIP SUSPENDED MARCH 23 to MAY 27 due to COVID-19 restrictions ROUND 10 JULY 16-19 Thu 7:50pm Roosters v Raiders SCG 20-24 ROUND 3 MAY 28-31 Fri 6:00pm Storm v Titans S. Coast 42-6 Thu 7:50pm Broncos v Eels Suncorp 6-34 Fri 7:55pm Tigers v Broncos Leichhardt 48-0 Fri 6:00pm Cowboys v Titans Townsville 36-6 Sat 3:00pm Dragons v Bulldogs WIN 28-22 Fri 7:55pm Roosters v Rabbitohs Bankwest 28-12 Sat 5:30pm Rabbitohs v Knights Bankwest 18-20 Sat 3:00pm Warriors v Dragons Gosford 18-0 Sat 7:35pm Sea Eagles v Eels Lottoland 22-18 Sat 5:30pm Sharks v Tigers Bankwest 16-28 Sun 2:00pm Warriors v Sharks Gosford 10-46 Sat 7:35pm Storm v Raiders AAMI 6-22 Sun 4:05pm Panthers v Cowboys Panthers 22-10 Sun 4:05pm Panthers v Knights C'town 14-14 Sun 6:30pm Sea Eagles v Bulldogs Gosford 32-6 ROUND 11 JULY 23-26 Thu 7:50pm Eels v Tigers Bankwest 26-16 ROUND 4 JUNE 4-8 Queen's Birthday Fri 6:00pm Cowboys v Sea Eagles QCBS 12-24 Thu 7:50pm Broncos v Roosters Suncorp 0-59 Fri 7:55pm Broncos v Storm Suncorp 8-46 Fri 6:00pm Panthers v Warriors C'town 26-0 Sat 3:00pm Warriors v Roosters Gosford 10-18 Fri 7:55pm Storm v Rabbitohs AAMI 22-8 Sat 5:30pm Sharks v Dragons Kogarah 28-24 Sat 5:30pm Eels v Sea Eagles Bankwest 19-16 Sat 7:35pm Raiders v Rabbitohs GIO 18-12 Sat 7:35pm Cowboys v Sharks Townsville 16-26 Sun 2:00pm Knights v Bulldogs MJS 12-18 Sun 4:05pm Raiders v Knights C'town 18-34 Sun 4:05pm Titans v Panthers Cbus Super 14-22 Sun 6:30pm Titans v Tigers Suncorp 28-23 Mon 4:05pm Bulldogs v Dragons Bankwest 22-2 ROUND 12 JULY 30-AUGUST 2 Indigenous Round Thu 7:50pm Dragons v Rabbitohs Kogarah 24-32 ROUND 5 JUNE 11-15 Fri 6:00pm Tigers v Warriors SCG 20-26 Thu 7:50pm Sea Eagles v Broncos Gosford 20-18 Fri 7:55pm Broncos v Sharks Suncorp 26-36 Fri 6:00pm Warriors v Cowboys Gosford 37-26 Sat 3:00pm Roosters v Titans SCG 18-12 Fri 7:55pm Eels v Panthers Bankwest 16-10 Sat 5:30pm Cowboys v Raiders Townsville 12-14 Sat 3:00pm Rabbitohs v Titans Bankwest 32-12 Sat 7:35pm Sea Eagles v Panthers Lottoland 12-42 Sat 5:30pm Knights v Storm Gosford 12-26 Sun 2:00pm Bulldogs v Eels ANZ 16-18 Sat 7:35pm Tigers v Raiders C'town 6-14 Sun 4:05pm Storm v Knights S. Coast 26-16 Sun 4:05pm Dragons v Sharks C'town 30-16 Mon 7:00pm Bulldogs v Roosters Bankwest 6-42 ROUND 13 AUGUST 6-9 Thu 7:50pm Dragons v Roosters WIN 16-24 ROUND 6 JUNE 18-21 Beanies for Brain Cancer Round Fri 6:00pm Sea Eagles v Warriors Lottoland 22-26 Thu 7:50pm Knights v Broncos Gosford 27-6 Fri 7:55pm Rabbitohs v Broncos ANZ 28-10 Fri 6:00pm Rabbitohs v Warriors Bankwest 40-12 Sat 3:00pm Storm v Bulldogs S. Coast 41-10 Fri 7:55pm Panthers v Storm C'town 21-14 Sat 5:30pm Knights v Tigers MJS 44-4 Sat 3:00pm Titans v Dragons Suncorp 8-20 Sat 7:35pm Panthers v Raiders Panthers 28-12 Sat 5:30pm Tigers v Cowboys C'town 36-20 Sun 2:00pm Titans v Cowboys Cbus Super 30-10 Sat 7:35pm Roosters v Eels Bankwest 24-10 Sun 4:05pm Sharks v Eels Kogarah 12-14 Sun 4:05pm Raiders v Sea Eagles C'town 6-14 Sun 6:30pm Sharks v Bulldogs Bankwest 20-18 ROUND 14 AUGUST 13-16 Thu 7:50pm Roosters v Storm SCG 6-24 ROUND 7 JUNE 25-29 Fri 6:00pm Warriors v Panthers Gosford 12-18 Thu 7:50pm Panthers v Rabbitohs Kogarah 20-12 Fri 7:55pm Eels v Dragons Bankwest 12-14 Fri 6:00pm Storm v Warriors Kogarah 50-6 Sat 3:00pm Sharks v Titans Kogarah 30-18 Fri 7:55pm Roosters v Dragons Bankwest 26-12 Sat 5:30pm Cowboys v Rabbitohs Townsville 30-31 Sat 3:00pm Cowboys v Knights Townsville 32-20 Sat 7:35pm Raiders v Broncos GIO 36-8 Sat 5:30pm Broncos v Titans Suncorp 12-30 Sun 2:00pm Knights v Sea Eagles MJS 26-24 Sat 7:35pm Eels v Raiders Bankwest 25-24 Sun 4:05pm Tigers v Bulldogs Bankwest 29-28 Sun 4:05pm Sea Eagles v Sharks Gosford 22-40 Sun 6:30pm Bulldogs v Tigers Bankwest 6-34

32 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 ROUND 15 AUGUST 20-23 ROUND 20 SEPTEMBER 24-27 Thu 7:50pm Eels v Storm Bankwest 14-0 Thu 7:50pm Broncos v Cowboys Suncorp Stadium Fri 6:00pm Panthers v Sharks Panthers 38-12 Fri 6:00pm Titans v Knights Cbus Super Stadium Fri 7:55pm Broncos v Dragons Suncorp 24-26 Fri 7:55pm Rabbitohs v Roosters ANZ Stadium Sat 3:00pm Titans v Raiders Cbus Super 16-36 Sat 3:00pm Bulldogs v Panthers ANZ Stadium Sat 5:30pm Tigers v Roosters Leichhardt 16-38 Sat 5:30pm Sharks v Raiders Netstrata Jubilee Stadium Sat 7:35pm Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles ANZ 56-16 Sat 7:35pm Tigers v Eels Bankwest Stadium Sun 2:00pm Bulldogs v Warriors ANZ 14-20 Sun 2:00pm Warriors v Sea Eagles Central Coast Stadium Sun 4:05pm Knights v Cowboys MJS 12-0 Sun 4:05pm Dragons v Storm Netstrata Jubilee Stadium

ROUND 16 AUGUST 27-30 Thu 7:50pm Eels v Rabbtiohs Bankwest 0-38 Fri 6:00pm Dragons v Titans Kogarah 10-14 2020 NRL TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP FINALS SERIES Fri 7:55pm Roosters v Broncos SCG 58-12 Sat 3:00pm Warriors v Knights Tamworth 36-6 WEEK 1 OCTOBER 2-4 Qualifying & Elimination Finals Sat 5:30pm Sharks v Cowboys Kogarah 28-12 Day/Time TBC QF 1 Panthers (1) v 4 Panthers Stadium* Sat 7:35pm Panthers v Tigers Panthers 30-6 Day/Time TBC QF 2 Storm (2) v 3 Suncorp Stadium* Sun 4:05pm Storm v Sea Eagles S. Coast 30-6 Day/Time TBC EF 1 5 v 8 Venue TBC Sun 6:30pm Raiders v Bulldogs GIO 34-20 Day/Time TBC EF 2 6 v 7 Venue TBC

ROUND 17 SEPTEMBER 3-6 WEEK 2 OCTOBER 9-10 Semi Finals Thu 7:50pm Broncos v Panthers Suncorp 12-25 Day/Time TBC SF 1 L QF 1 v W EF 1 Venue TBC Fri 6:00pm Knights v Sharks MJS 38-10 Day/Time TBC SF 2 L QF 2 v W EF 2 Venue TBC Fri 7:55pm Rabbitohs v Storm ANZ 16-22 Sat 3:00pm Bulldogs v Titans ANZ 14-18 WEEK 3 OCTOBER 16-17 Preliminary Finals Sat 5:30pm Sea Eagles v Tigers Lottoland 32-34 Day/Time TBC PF 1 W QF 1 v W SF 2 Venue TBC Sat 7:35pm Raiders v Roosters GIO 6-18 Day/Time TBC PF 2 W QF 2 v W SF 1 Venue TBC Sun 4:05pm Warriors v Eels Gosford 18-24 Sun 6:30pm Cowboys v Dragons QCBS 23-22 GRAND FINAL OCTOBER 25 Sun, Time TBC W PF 1 v W PF 2 Venue TBC ROUND 18 SEPTEMBER 10-13 Thu 7:50pm Tigers v Rabbitohs Bankwest 24-26 Fri 6:00pm Bulldogs v Sea Eagles ANZ 20-32 Fri 7:55pm Panthers v Eels Panthers 20-2 2020 Sat 3:00pm Dragons v Raiders WIN 8-37 Sat 5:30pm Titans v Broncos Cbus Super 18-6 GAME 1 NOVEMBER 4 Sat 7:35pm Roosters v Knights SCG 42-12 Wed NSW v QLD Adelaide Oval Sun 4:05pm Storm v Cowboys S. Coast 36-20 GAME 2 NOVEMBER 11 Sun 6:30pm Sharks v Warriors Kogarah 22-14 Wed NSW v QLD ANZ Stadium WOMEN’S NOVEMBER 13 ROUND 19 SEPTEMBER 17-20 Women in League Round Fri QLD v NSW Sunshine Coast Stadium Thu 7:50pm Rabbitohs v Bulldogs ANZ 16-26 GAME 3 NOVEMBER 18 Fri 6:00pm Cowboys v Panthers QCBS 12-32 Wed QLD v NSW Suncorp Stadium Fri 7:55pm Eels v Broncos Bankwest 26-12 Sat 3:00pm Sea Eagles v Titans Lottoland 24-42 Sat 5:30pm Storm v Tigers S. Coast 50-22 All matches except Grand Final & Origin broadcast live on Fox League & Kayo Sat 7:35pm Roosters v Sharks SCG 34-18 Sports. Thu 7:50pm, Fri 7:55pm and Sun 4:05pm matches, all Finals, Grand Sun 2:00pm Raiders v Warriors GIO 26-14 Final and Origin are broadcast live on the Nine Network. NRL draw is subject to Sun 4:05pm Knights v Dragons MJS 42-18 change - visit LeagueUnlimited.com for updated fixtures.

LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 | 33 NSWRL GRAND FINAL DAY 2020 NSWRL PRESIDENTS CUP · GRAND FINAL

MAITLAND PICKERS v GLEBE-BURWOOD WOLVES BANKWEST STADIUM · SUNDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2020 · 3:30PM

Referee: Kieren IRONS Touch Judges: Ben TEAGUE,John WOODS In-goal Judges: Daniel LUTTRINGER, Jake SUTHERLAND

PICKERS: 1. Daniel Langbridge 2. James Bradley 3. Henry Penn 4. Gary Anderson 5. Matthew Soper-Lawler 6. Chad O'donnell 7. Brock Lamb 8. James Taylor 9. Alex Langbridge 10. Jayden Butterfield 11. Cooper Jenkins 12. Jacob McCudden 13. Callan Burgess 14. Elijah Rasiga 15. Faitotoa Faitotoa 16. Marvin Filipo 20. Samuel Anderson 17. Jarred Anderson 21. Ben Ireland 22. Peter Wilson

WOLVES: 1. Jacob Gagai 2. Jonah Ngaronoa 3. Addison Demetriou 4. John Olive 5. Honeti Tuha 6. Sitiveni Moceidreke 7. Liam Coleman 8. Wesley Lolo 9. Jackson Garlick 10. Thomas Hazelton 11. Matt Stimson 12. Myles Taueli 13. Brock Gray 14. Trent Toelau 15. Duwayne Mariner 16. Sione Afemui 17. Kem Seru 22. Ethan Natoli 23. Patrice Siolo 24. Lorenzo Mulitalo

2020 NSWRL · GRAND FINAL

RYDE-EASTWOOD HAWKS v CRONULLA-CARINGBAH SHARKS BANKWEST STADIUM · SUNDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2020 · 11:00AM Referee: Cameron PADDY Touch Judges: Mitchell STONE, Cameron MITCHELL In-goal Judges: Damian BRADY, Clayton WILLS

HAWKS: 1. Curtis Wilson 2. Bradley Cousins 3. Regan Hughes 4. Reggie Alofipo 5. Liam Scolari 6. Adam Rizk 7. Mitchell Gray 8. Langi Suli-Ruka 9. Blake Layton 10. Edward Carter 11. Justin Frain 12. Tyler Seymour 13. Angus McElroy 15. Callum Ellis 18. Benjamin Fisiilose 19. Angelo Panambalama 23. Zac Vella 14. Bennett Wheelhouse 20. Suliasi Suli 21. Tyler Field 24. Joshua Suli-Ruka

SHARKS: 1. Callum Tutauha 2. Brent Anderson 21. Nesiasi Mataitonga 4. Jacob Gagan 5. Daniel Perkins 6. Kamren Cryer 7. Bailey Hayward 8. Hayden Fepuleai 9. Michael Lichaa 17. Jyi Seymour 11. James Spencer 12. Dj Purcell 13. Ryan King 14. Lachlan Hughes 15. Mathew Emery 10. Tokerau Raru 24. Joey Tramontana 18. Wiremu Peters 19. Benjamin Chahoud 20. Mason Pure 22. Blake Williamson

34 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 NSWRL GRAND FINAL DAY 2020 NSWRL HARVEY NORMAN WOMEN'S PREMIERSHIP · GRAND FINAL

CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS v BANKWEST STADIUM · SUNDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2020 · 1:15PM Referee: Karra-Lee NOLAN Touch Judges: Cameron TURNER, Dillian WELLS In-goal Judges: Luke SALDERN, Paul EDEN

ROOSTERS: 1. Isabelle Kelly 2. Alicia Martin 3. Yasmin Meakes 4. Brydie Parker 5. Claire Reed 6. Bobbi Law 7. Melanie Howard 8. Keilee Joseph 9. Kylie Hilder 10. Tayla Predebon 11. Jocelyn Kelleher 12. Britney Duff 13. Hannah Southwell 14. Olivia Higgins 15. Madeline Jones 16. Olivia Kernick 17. Jasmine Strange 19. Tazmyne Luschwitz

BEARS: 1. Shanice Parker 2. Caitlin Keefe 3. Shontelle Stowers 4. Shenai Lendill 5. Tyla Gambell 6. Chloe Leaupepe 7. Sabrina Green 8. Josephine Maejiirs 9. Nita Maynard 10. Aliti Namoce 14. Talesha Quinn 12. 13. Nicole Backhouse 16. Mary Taupau 15. Moniqca Moale 18. Lacey Shields 17. Kirra Dibb 19. Pier Pritchard 20. Eunice Grimes 30. Losena Qiolevu

NSWRL RESULTS PRESIDENT'S CUP - SEMI FINALS Maitland 16 (Brock Lamb, Matt Soper-Lawler, James Bradley tries; Brock Lamb 2 goals) def Hills Bulls 14 (Daniel Harrison, Taniela Lasalo, Levi Li tries; Josh Lewis 1 goal) at Maitland Sports Ground

Glebe-Burwood 26 (Trent Toelau, Matt Stimson, Liam Coleman, Sitiveni Moceidreke tries; Addison Demetriou 5 goals) def North Sydney 6 (Tobias Westcott 3 goals) at

TEAMS ELIMINATED: Hills Bulls, North Sydney

SYDNEY SHIELD - SEMI FINALS Ryde-Eastwood 24 (Bradley Cousins, Reggie Alofipo, Tyler Seymour, Mitchell Gray tries; Curtis Wilson 4 goals) def Helensburgh 12 (Harrison Geraghty, William Russell tries; Harrison Geraghty 1, William Russell 1 goals) at Leichhardt Oval

Cronulla-Caringbah 32 (Kamren Cryer, Callum Tutauha, Takeau Raru, Brent Anderson tries; Kamren Cryer 8 goals) def Belrose 12 (Jonathan Palau, Beau Abrahams, Christian Bate tries) at Leichhardt Oval

TEAMS ELIMINATED: Helensburgh, Belrose

HARVEY NORMAN WOMEN'S PREMIERSHIP - PRELIMINARY FINAL North Sydney 16 (Shanice Parker, Monicqa Moale, Shontelle Stowers tries; Chloe Leaupepe 2 goals) def Cronulla 10 (Kennedy Cherrington, Andie Robinson tries; Maddie Studdon 1 goal) at Leichhardt Oval

TEAM ELIMINATED: Cronulla

LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 | 35 2020 BETFRED SUPER LEAGUE · ROUND 13 Hull Kingston Leeds ROVERS RHINOS

P T G Pts P T G Pts 10 1 - 4 Shaun KENNY-DOWALL 3 2 4 1 - 4 10 - - - Kane LINNETT 4 3 Harry NEWMAN 9 2 - 8 6 - - - Robbie MULHERN 8 5 Ash HANDLEY 9 6 - 24 5 1 - 4 Matt PARCELL 9 6 Rob LUI 7 1 - 4 7 1 - 4 Harvey LIVETT 12 7 9 3 132 40 5 - - - Mitch GARBUTT 14 8 Ava SEUMANUFAGAI 7 1 - 4 10 - - - Daniel MURRAY 16 9 Kruise LEEMING 5 - - - 5 - - - Kyle TROUT 17 10 Matt PRIOR 8 - - - 6 - - - Jez LITTEN 18 11 Alex MELLOR 6 1 - 4 2 - 2 4 20 12 Rhyse MARTIN 6 - 17 34 1 - - - Owen HARRISON 21 15 Liam SUTCLIFFE 5 1 - 4 - - - - Nick RAWSTHORNE 22 16 Richie MYLER 7 5 - 20 4 - - - 24 17 9 - - - 4 - - - Matty GEE 25 19 Mikolaj OLEDZKI 9 2 - 8 6 - - - Will MAHER 26 23 Callum McLELLAND 2 - - - 9 2 - 8 Elliott MINCHELLA 27 24 Luke BRISCOE 6 3 - 12 4 - 8 16 30 25 James DONALDSON 6 1 - 4 8 2 6 20 31 27 Sam WALTERS - - - - 4 - - - Nathaniel PETERU 32 28 Tom HOLROYD 2 ------Will TATE 33 33 Jarrod O’CONNOR ------Jimmy KEINHORST 34 40 1 - - -

Tony SMITH COACH

Super League Round 13 Result Super League Table Huddersfield 29(Jake Wardle, Aidan Sezer, , , Chris McQueen tries; Aidan Sezer 4 goals; 1 field goal) defWakefield 6( try; Ryan Hampshire 1 goal) Venue: John Smith's Stadium; Date: Thursday 17 September 2020, 3pm BST Pos Team P W L D F A +/- Pts Win % 1 St Helens 11 8 3 0 303 135 168 16 73% Quarter Final Results 2 Warrington 11 8 3 0 228 132 96 16 73% Salford 22 ( 2, , James Greenwood tries; Krisnan Inu 3 goals) def 3 Wigan 11 8 3 0 267 182 85 16 73% Catalans 18 (Fouad Yaha, James Maloney, Matt Whiteley tries; James Maloney 3 goals); Venue: Totally Wicked Stadium; Date: Friday 18 September 2020, 6pm BST 4 Leeds 9 6 3 0 214 174 40 12 67% Leeds 48 (Kruse Leeming 2, Ava Seumanufagai, Ash Handley, Tom Briscoe, Harry Newman, Luke 5 Catalans 8 5 3 0 228 169 59 10 63% Briscoe, Rhyse Martin tries; Rhyse Martin 8 goals) def Hull KR (Jamie Ellis 2, Jez Litten tries; Jamie Lewis 3 goals); Venue: Totally Wicked Stadium; Date: Friday 18 September 2020, 8:15pm 6 Castleford 11 5 6 0 213 216 -3 10 45% BST 7 Huddersfield 11 5 6 0 191 228 -37 10 45% Wigan 36 ( 2, 2, , , Oliver Gildart tries; Zak Hardaker 4 goals) def Hull FC 4 ( try) Venue: AJ Bell Stadium; Date: Saturday 19 8 Hull FC 11 5 6 0 232 302 -70 8 45% September 2020, 6pm BST 9 Salford 9 2 7 0 166 253 -87 4 22% Warrington 20 (Josh Charnley 2, Anthony Gelling, Matty Ashton tries; 2 goals) def St Helens 18 (, , Kevin Naiqama tries; 3 goals) 10 Hull KR 10 2 8 0 166 280 -114 4 20% Venue: AJ Bell Stadium; Date: Saturday 19 September 2020, 8:15pm BST 11 Wakefield 10 2 8 0 144 281 -137 4 20% Semi Final Draw: Leeds v Wigan, Salford v Warrington 36 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 #SLHKRLee Match Preview MATCH DETAILS with Steve Mascord DATE Thursday 24 Sptember KICKOFF 2:45pm BST ON the weekend where his home nation of Germany plays an VENUE , Warrington international against the Netherlands, Jimmy Keinhorst returns for Hull WATCH Rugby League Hub (Aus & SE Asia) KR for what will be his first appearance of the year. Ireland international Ethan Ryan is out for the season with a broken hand while newly-re-signed fullback Will Dagger (knee) and second rower Matty MATCH OFFICIALS Stornton (hand) were also unavailable for selection. REFEREE Jack SMITH SIDELINE OFFICIALS Cameron WORSLEY Coach Tony Smith welcomes back halfback Ryan Brierley from injury and Tony MARTIN Will Tate was included in the 21-man squad.

Brett Ferres and Adam Cuthbertson are the additions to the squad of Leeds coach Richard Agar while youngsters Sam Walters and Jarrod O’Connor were called into the preliminary squad.

Brad Dwyer is still recovering from Covid-19 and wasn’t considered and Alex Sutcliffe was banned. Anticipated comebacks for Cameron Smith and Jack Walker have been delayed.

After the giddy heights of defeating Wigan a fortnight ago, avant guard Hull KR crashed to earth on Friday night when they were flogged 48-18 by Leeds - who just happen to be their opponents again this week in Super League’s opening match of the round. RUGBY LEAGUE project It’s hard to see the result being reversed, even if Tony Smith’s battle-beaten side can manage to narrow the margin.

Match Stats Leeds believe they found the secret to containing the off-the-cuff attacking style which has won the Robins many admirers since the restart of Super HEAD TO HEAD (SL Era) League. OVERALL 28 MATCHES “When they got some offloads, they didn’t really hurt us too much,” Agar said. “We were really alive to the kicking game and the trick kicks. We did a Hull KR 8 Leeds 20 really good job and and a really concentrated job on that. They have been At Halliwell Jones Stadium: first meeting at this venue troubling a lot of teams.” Agar warns that the Rhinos are still in a transitional phase and certainly LAST TEN LEEDS 7-3 can’t yet be compared to the likes of Wigan and St Helens. 2015 Leeds 40-30 Craven 2015 Leeds 36-16 Headingley “We’re still a way to go if we’re to do that on a consistent basis,” he said. 2016 Hull KR 30-10 Headingley 2016 Leeds 24-20 Craven “We’ve got a level to step up to consistency-wise. 2018 Leeds 20-11 Headingley 2018 Leeds 20-18 Craven “As a coach, I’ve got a certain amount of time to get this club competing at 2019 Hull KR 45-26 Craven that level.” 2019 Leeds 28-24 Headingley It’s been reported during the week that even though talented forward Liam 2019 Hull KR 32-16 Headingley Sutcliffe is transfer listed, Leeds do want to keep him. 2020 Leeds 52-10 Headingley The match is also a significant one for rugby league fans in Australia and BIGGEST WINS South East Asia with rugbyleaguehub.com to broadcast it. As a non- 2016 Hull KR 30-10 Headingley televised match it would normally be only available to season ticket holders 2020 Leeds 52-10 Headingley of the two clubs who reside within the UK. A better start is key to a more competitive showing, according to Smith.

“We took too long to get off the bus,” he said of the Challenge Cup quarter- final at the Totally Wicked Stadium

Who to watch: York and have this week been linked to veteran off- contract Leeds forward Adam Cuthbertson, who is not quite the off-loading dynamo he once was but will be keen to prove he is still worthy of a berth in the top flight competition.

Favourites: Hull KR have the capacity to bounce back but a loss to Leeds will raise serious questions about whether they have actually progressed.

My tip: A much more competitive performance from Rovers but Leeds should open up a double-figure margin in the final quarter. Leeds by 10.

LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 15 | 37 2020 BETFRED SUPER LEAGUE · ROUND 13 Hull Salford FC RED DEVILS

P T G Pts P T G Pts 10 5 -1 21 1 2 - - - - 5 - - - Bureta FARAIMO 2 3 Kris WELHAM 9 1 - 4 9 5 - 20 3 4 Dan SARGINSON 5 1 - 4 10 4 3 22 4 5 Krisnan INU 2 - 5 10 8 1 5 14 6 6 9 4 16 48 9 2 283 67 Marc SNEYD 7 7 Kevin BROWN 6 2 - 8 10 1 - 4 9 9 9 1 - 4 8 - - - Tevita SATAE 10 10 Gil DUDSON 6 - - - 6 2 - 8 Manu MA’U 12 12 Pauli PAULI 9 - - - 8 - - - Liligiifo SAO 13 13 Tyrone McCARTHY 8 - - - 4 - - - 15 14 8 - - - 8 - - - 16 16 Greg BURKE 3 - - - 4 - - - Masi MATONGO 19 17 9 2 - 8 7 - - - Brad FASH 20 18 4 1 - 4 8 2 - 8 Jordan LANE 21 19 Mark FLANAGAN 7 - - - 10 1 - 4 22 22 Rhys WILLIAMS 9 3 - 12 4 1 - 4 Andre SAVELIO 23 24 Elliot KEAR 5 - - - 10 4 - 16 Mahe FONUA 24 25 Connor JONES 3 - - - 1 - - - 25 29 4 - - - 4 1 - 4 Jack BROWN 30 30 1 - - - 1 - - - 31 32 Kallum WATKINS - - - -

Andy LAST COACH Ian WATSON

Missed an issue of

THEAll back-issues FRONT are available FREE ROW? online at leagueunlimited.com/the-front-row

38 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 #SLHulSal Match Preview MATCH DETAILS with Steve Mascord DATE Thursday 24 September 2020 KICKOFF 6:00pm BST IT used to be common for players from the Southern Hemisphere to VENUE Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington make it in the top division in Britain before they’d made a home for themselves at home - but tighter immigration laws put paid to that. WATCH Sky Sports Arena Which is why , a home-grown Tongan product who was playing Under 20s for Penrith as long ago as 2012, is such an anomaly. MATCH OFFICIALS Aussie fans watching Super League games this year would perhaps struggle REFEREE Chris KENDALL to place him and assume he came from rugby union. Satae is the first to SIDELINE OFFICIALS Scott MIKALAUSKAS admit he got into the old “bad habits’ off the field in Sydney and ended up Mike SMAILL back in Auckland, working in a chocolate factory. VIDEO REFEREE Tom GRANT For a while he played for fun but Satae, now 27, decided to give the big time one more shot. From Port Chevalier Pirates, he fought his way into the New Zealand Residents side and got a start with the Warriors before finally made his NRL debut before a mid-season transfer to Hull last year.

Now he appears to have finally found his footballing home.

Satae and his FC team-mates were well beaten, 36-4, at the hands of Wigan in the Challenge Cup last weekend and face a Salford side buoyed by their golden point win over Catalans.

But with the competition table now determined by percentages, Hull on 45.45 are still well ahead of Salford on 22.22. FC Veteran missed the loss to Wigan but is expected back. But forward is still suffering from the effects of a Covid-19 infection and did not feature last week.

The short turnarounds are a problem for last, who replaced Lead Radford when he was sacked mid-season

“That’s the problem – we’re not getting much time in-between games to put things right,” Last said. “All we’re doing is putting the players out there having done just a little bit of preview. We had one session leading into a Challenge Cup quarter-final which is really tough.

“But it is the same for everyone and you just need to get on with it.”

England centre Kallum Watkins made a promising debut against Catalans. Ed Chamberlain is due back from a ruptured ACL in the coming weeks. RUGBY LEAGUE Who to watch: Centre Dan Sarginson scored the overtime clincher last project week and will be looking to making an impression out wide once more this week. It’s an area where the Red Devils may well have the edge.

Match Stats Favourites: On paper, these sides look evenly matched with perhaps even Hull having a slight advantage. But out on the pitch, it’s the gritty Mancunians who hold the edge and their never-say-die approach should HEAD TO HEAD (SL Era) get them home on Thursday. OVERALL 47 MATCHES My tip: Perhaps another last-minute thing for Ian Watson’s men - Salford in Hull FC 35 Salford 12 a tight one. At Halliwell Jones Stadium: first meeting at this venue

LAST TEN HULL 6-4 2016 Hull 28-20 AJ Bell 2017 Salford 54-18 KCOM 2017 Hull 34-10 AJ Bell 2017 Hull 32-18 KCOM 2018 Salford 24-8 AJ Bell 2018 Hull 45-14 KCOM 2019 Hull 23-16 AJ Bell 2019 Hull 35-32 KCOM 2019 Salford 44-22 KCOM 2020 Salford 54-18 Headingley

BIGGEST WINS 2004 Hull 8-26 KCOM 2017 Salford 54-18 KCOM 2020 Salford 54-18 Headingley

LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 15 | 39 2020 BETFRED SUPER LEAGUE · ROUND 13 Castleford Huddersfield TIGERS GIANTS

P T G Pts P T G Pts 11 8 - 32 Derrell OLPHERTS 2 1 5 1 - 4 11 5 - 20 4 2 Jermaine McGILLVARY 10 3 - 12 11 2 361 81 Danny RICHARDSON 7 3 Jake WARDLE 10 3 - 12 9 - - - 8 4 Jordan TURNER 7 1 -1 5 11 2 - 8 Paul McSHANE 9 5 Darnell McINTOSH 9 3 - 12 11 1 - 4 10 6 6 1 - 4 10 1 - 4 Oliver HOLMES 11 7 Aidan SEZER 9 2 25 58 10 2 - 8 Mike McMEEKEN 12 8 James GAVET 10 1 - 4 10 1 - 4 Nathan MASSEY 14 10 Suaia MATAGI 8 2 - 8 5 - - - Jesse SENE-LEFAO 15 11 Kenny EDWARDS 11 - - - 10 - - - George GRIFFIN 16 13 Michael LAWRENCE 10 - - - 6 4 - 16 18 15 Oliver WILSON 6 - - - 8 4 - 16 James CLARE 21 21 5 - - - 6 - - - Jacques O’NEILL 22 22 Tom HOLMES 7 ------Matt COOK 23 23 4 1 8 20 2 - - - Tyla HEPI 24 27 Sam WOOD 10 - - - 3 - - - 25 31 Owen TROUT 2 1 - 4 3 1 - 4 Calum TURNER 26 32 Dominic YOUNG 1 - - - 1 - - - Lewis PEACHEY 27 34 Chris McQUEEN 2 1 - 4 4 2 - 8 Gareth O'BRIEN 34 35 Robson STEVENS ------ 35

Darryl POWELL COACH Luke ROBINSON

Follow every NRL game with

LIVEEvery NRL UPDATES game, every round leagueunlimited.com

40 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 #SLCasHud Match Preview MATCH DETAILS with Steve Mascord DATE Thursday 24 September 2020 KICKOFF 8:15pm BST A big ’in’ for Castleford - as they say on NRL 360 - is powerful back VENUE Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington rower Jesse Sene-Lafao, stood down last week due to track-and-trace WATCH Sky Sports Arena protocols.

Former Wolfpack fullback Gareth O’Brien also returns after being cup-tied MATCH OFFICIALS last week while coach Darryl Powell potentially gives two men their 2020 REFEREE Liam MOORE debuts - Widnes-bound Matt Cook and youngster Jack Sanderson. , , Peter Matautia and Jake Trueman are four enormous SIDELINE OFFICIALS Dean BOWMER absences due to injury and suspension. Clint SHARRAD VIDEO REFEREE Ben THALER For the Giants, their woes are such that their 21-man squad only included 20 players! Lee Gaskill is back from a broken thumb and youngsters Owen Trout, Dominic Young and Robson Stevens all gained selection. There was still no berth for talented Irish youngster Ronan Michael.

Statistics apparently don’t support the old maxim of players lifting when there has been a change of coach but Huddersfield definitely put their best feet forward after Simon Woolford was relieved of his post last week.

Players showed up to training the day before the only Super League game last week to first be told a member of their opponents the previous week, Leeds, had tested positive to Covid-19 and then that their coach of two years had parted ways with the club.

The Giants nonetheless put the clearers through Wakefield 29-6 at John Smith’s Stadium to give caretaker Luke Robinson a cruisey first day on the job - and a few hours later his was back in charge of some under sixes. But the Giants (5-6) face a tougher challenge this week against up-and-down Castleford (also 5-6). Powell’s team has had four losses from five since the resumption of play but most of the performances were staunch, save a 40-4 defeat at the hands of Catalans. St Helens, Wigan and Warrington were pushed either side of a win over Salford.

By comparison, Huddersfield opened with four defeats - three of them heavy. The one-point defeat to Warrington on August 15 suggested better days ahead but that proved false until the breakthrough win over Trinity. Last week, as Robison said, “three starting players and one bench player” RUGBY LEAGUE were barred from taking part after coming into contact with a Leeds Rhino project who had subsequently tested positive for Covid. Match Stats The Giants have begun looking for a new coach and Robinson has thrown his hat into the ring. London’s Danny Ward has been mentioned as another HEAD TO HEAD (SL Era) candidate. OVERALL 47 MATCHES Who to watch: Aiden Sezer is in superb form and will hold the key to Thursday’s result. “I told him it was an honour to be his coach,” Robinson Castleford 29 Huddersfield 18 said. “He improves the players around him.” At Halliwell Jones Stadium: first meeting at this venue Favourites: Despite the win last week for the Giants, Castleford’s recent form is better. They’ve also had the weekend off, meaning it’s a barometer LAST TEN CASTLEFORD 8-2 of how much value to put in a rest when tipping the rest of the season. 2016 Castleford 30-22 John Smith's 2017 Castleford 52-16 M-A-H Jungle My tip: A fresh Castleford by 8. 2017 Castleford 26-21 John Smith's 2017 Castleford 24-16 John Smith's 2018 Castleford 40-28 John Smith's 2018 Huddersfield 32-18 M-A-H Jungle 2018 Castleford 44-12 M-A-H Jungle 2019 Huddersfield 20-18 John Smith's 2019 Castleford 27-26 M-A-H Jungle 2019 Castleford 24-0 John Smith's

BIGGEST WINS 2008 Huddersfield 64-12 John Smith's 2012 Castleford 52-6 M-A-H Jungle

LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 15 | 41 2020 BETFRED SUPER LEAGUE · ROUND 13 Warrington Catalans WOLVES DRAGONS

P T G Pts P T G Pts 11 2 35 78 Stefan RATCHFORD 1 1 David MEAD 2 - - - 6 3 - 12 Anthony GELLING 3 2 Lewis TIERNEY 4 1 - 4 11 1 - 4 4 3 8 4 - 16 11 3 - 12 Josh CHARNLEY 5 4 Israel FOLAU 6 2 - 8 11 6 -4 28 6 5 Fouad YAHA 8 6 - 24 7 4 2 20 Gareth WIDDOP 7 6 James MALONEY 8 2 34 76 7 - - - Chris HILL 8 7 Josh DRINKWATER 7 1 - 4 10 1 - 4 9 8 Rémi CASTY 8 - - - 11 1 - 4 Mike COOPER 10 9 Mike McILORUM 6 1 - 4 11 2 - 8 11 10 Sam MOA 3 - - - 3 - - - Jack HUGHES 12 11 Matt WHITLEY 8 5 - 20 8 2 - 8 Ben MURDOCH-MASILA 13 12 6 1 - 4 9 - - - Jason CLARK 14 13 Benjamin GARCIA 8 1 - 4 9 - - - Joseph PHILBIN 15 14 Julian BOUSQUET 8 2 - 8 2 1 - 4 Leilani LATU 16 15 Mickaël SIMON 1 - - - 7 2 - 8 Jake MAMO 17 16 Tom DAVIES 3 5 - 20 7 1 - 4 Sitaleki AKAUOLA 18 17 Benjamin JULLIEN 7 2 - 8 4 - - - Matt DAVIS 19 18 Alrix DA COSTA 3 1 - 4 9 - - - Danny WALKER 20 19 Mickaël GOUDEMAND 1 - - - 2 - 1 2 21 20 Lucas ALBERT 1 - - - 3 - - - Luis JOHNSON 22 21 Paul SÉGUIER 2 - - - 2 - - - Keanan BRAND 24 22 Arthur ROMANO 1 - - - 1 - - - Samuel KIBULA 25 23 Antoni MARIA 3 - - - 6 2 - 8 Matthew ASHTON 26 24 Jason BAITIERI 8 1 - 4 2 - - - Ellis ROBSON 27 25 Arthur MOURGUE 2 ------ 28 26 Lambert BELMAS ------Josh THEWLIS 29 27 Gavin MARGUERITE ------ 30 28 Sam KASIANO 8 - - - 1 - - - Ellis LONGSTAFF 31 29 6 4 2 20 1 - - - Eribe DORO 32

Steve PRICE COACH Steve McNAMARA

42 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 #SLWarCat Match Preview MATCH DETAILS with Steve Mascord DATE Friday 25 September 2020 KICKOFF 6:00pm BST WARRINGTON coach Steve Price hit the headlines last weekend by VENUE Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington decry social distancing rules that impose at £250 fine for players who WATCH Sky Sports Arena high-five after a try.

The Wire had just progressed in the Challenge Cup in a replay of last year’s MATCH OFFICIALS final by beating St Helens and Price said: “I just can’t understand how that has been brought in. REFEREE Robert HICKS SIDELINE OFFICIALS Mark CRAVEN “As a young kid growing up, you play rugby league for enjoyment, fun, a Liam RUSH team environment and togetherness. VIDEO REFEREE Liam MOORE “To take away try-scoring celebrations I think is demoralising and not good for the game.bThey should show some understanding because the players are going above and beyond.

“Are we going to start telling women that when they give birth, they can’t hold their baby?”

If anyone is going to comment on the issue, it should be Price - he and the Wolves have done plenty of celebrating since the resumption of play. They’ve won every game and they’ve done it just about every way in ties against Hull KR, Huddersfield, Wakefield, Hull and Castleford.

Catalans were another form team coming out of the break but, as has been their wont over the years, the French team has slumped badly over the past fortnight.

In the first Super League game since March watched by fans inside the stadium, they were never really in their 28-12 loss to Wigan.

And then they were eclipsed in golden point time by Salford to be tipped out the Cup last week.

“We stopped playing,” said coach Steve McNamara, whose side now finds itself in fifth place just a couple of weeks after being installed at first when the competition table switched from points to percentages. RUGBY LEAGUE project There is then a big gap to sixth-placed Castleford. The clash of James Maloney and Blake Austin will be a highlight on Friday Match Stats with the two play-makers among the form players in Super League since the resumption of play.

HEAD TO HEAD (SL Era) Who to watch: After starting his Super League tenure like world-beater, OVERALL 34 MATCHES Israel Folau has been kept quiet in recent weeks by crowding defences which have stopped him getting near Maloney’s kicks. He needs to find a Warrington 20 Catalans 13 Drawn 1 new way to make an impact. At Halliwell Jones Stadium: 16 matches, Warrington 12, Catalans 3, Drawn 1 Favourites: Warrington seem to have come out of the Lockdown made of sturdier stuff than when they went in while the their opponents this week LAST TEN WARRINGTON 6-1-3 have the yips. 2016 Warrington 20-18 Halliwell Jones 2016 Warrington 26-22 Gilbert Brutus My tip: A comfortable 14-point win for improving Warrington over 2017 Catalans 20-12 Gilbert Brutus declining Catalans. 2017 Warrington 24-16 Halliwell Jones 2018 Warrington 26-0 Gilbert Brutus 2018 22-all draw Halliwell Jones 2018 Warrington 56-6 Halliwell Jones 2019 Catalans 23-22 Gilbert Brutus 2019 Warrington 34-4 Halliwell Jones 2019 Catalans 30-10 Gilbert Brutus

BIGGEST WINS 2008 Catalans 52-14 Gilbert Brutus 2008 Catalans 46-8 Gilbert Brutus 2018 Warrington 56-6 Halliwell Jones

LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 15 | 43 2020 BETFRED SUPER LEAGUE · ROUND 13 Wigan Wakefield WARRIORS TRINITY

P T G Pts P T G Pts 10 1 38 80 Zak HARDAKER 1 1 Alex WALKER 2 - - - 2 - 3 6 Chris HANKINSON 3 3 3 1 - 4 2 1 - 4 Oliver GILDART 4 4 Reece LYNE 9 - - - 4 4 - 16 Joe BURGESS 5 5 Ben JONES-BISHOP 2 - - - 11 6 - 24 Bevan FRENCH 6 6 Jacob MILLER 8 - -1 1 9 - - - 7 7 1 - 2 4 10 7 - 28 Sam POWELL 9 8 David FIFITA 2 - - - 7 1 - 4 George BURGESS 10 9 9 1 - 4 11 2 - 8 11 10 Tinirau ARONA 3 - - - 11 3 - 12 Liam FARRELL 12 11 Mat ASHURST 7 1 - 4 2 - - - Sean O’LOUGHLIN 13 12 3 - - - 3 1 - 4 14 13 9 2 - 8 3 - - - 15 14 9 1 - 4 9 - - - 16 15 Craig KOPCZAK 8 - - - 7 1 - 4 17 16 James BATCHELOR 3 - - - 7 1 - 4 Joe BULLOCK 19 17 Chris GREEN 4 - - - 10 1 - 4 Liam BYRNE 20 18 Adam TANGATA 6 - - - 8 3 - 12 21 19 5 - - - 5 - - - Mitch CLARK 22 21 Max JOWITT 8 3 7 26 9 2 - 8 Jake BIBBY 23 22 George KING 2 - - - 10 1 -1 5 Harry SMITH 28 23 Josh WOOD 8 1 - 4 - - - - Jack WELLS 29 24 Jack CROFT 1 - - - 6 - - - 30 26 Titus GWAZE 1 - - - 11 5 - 20 31 29 Ryan HAMPSHIRE 7 - 121 25 1 - - - Amir BOUROUH 32 30 Yusuf AYDIN 1 - - - 3 - - - Joe SHORROCKS 33 31 Connor BAILEY 2 ------Kai PEARCE-PAUL 34 36 Kelepi TANGINOA 9 4 - 16 - - - - Sam HALSALL 35 37 Romain NAVARRETE 9 ------ 37 38 3 2 - 8 39 Tony GIGOT 4 - 2 4 41 Eddie BATTYE 1 - - - COACH Chris CHESTER

44 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 #SLWigWak Match Preview MATCH DETAILS with Steve Mascord DATE Friday 25 September 2020 KICKOFF 8:15pm BST WAKEFIELD’s Chris Chester provided some of the starkest quotes this VENUE Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington reporter has ever heard from rugby league coach in defeat following the loss to Huddersfield last Thursday. WATCH Sky Sports Arena “We’re just not seeing enough fight from the players,” he said. “I’ve seen some individuals tonight jump out of the way of tackles and that’s a first for MATCH OFFICIALS me, REFEREE James CHILD “These are the hardest six, seven weeks that I’ve had as a coach. Things SIDELINE OFFICIALS Tom GRANT don’t look to be changing any time soon. James VELLA VIDEO REFEREE Marcus GRIFFITHS “There’s a decent team in there. It just all boils down to attitude and we’re just miles off, honestly. We just seem further and further away from the rest of the comp at the minute.

“We’ve missed an organiser probably since Liam Finn retired a few years ago. There’s not a great deal out there.

“We spoke all week about toughness and resilience … there was no toughness about us and there certainly wan’t any resilience.”

On the “attitude” front, big forward David Fifita - brother of Andrew - was removed from the team bubble for refusing to wear and GPS device a fortnight ago. He’s due back in this week for the clash with in-form Wigan (8-3).

Wigan winger Dom Manfredi is out of this week’s game with concussion. is also unavailable, leaving Joe Burgess as the only specialist winger. Jake Bibby and Chris Hankinson are among the players considered for the vacant flank spot.

Bevan French was man-of-the-match at fullback last week but Lam hasn’t completely ruled out switching him elsewhere to cover for the wing crisis, with goal kicker Zak Hardaker returning to fullback.

Whatever Lam decides, the Warriors look too strong all over the park for Chesters’ side as they continue to warm to Lam’s coaching methods.

Meanwhile, Wakefield’s postponed home game against Leeds on September 3 has been rearranged for November 1. That means the Rhinos and Trinity will play twice in four days! RUGBY LEAGUE project Who to watch: Bevan French will be a catch for any NRL team that snares him next year. He’s a speed machine with incredible balance whom Wakefield will struggle to contact. The try off Hardaker’s kick last week was Match Stats rugby league poetry.

Favourites: Wigan are without doubt the shortest-priced favourites of the HEAD TO HEAD (SL Era) weekend. OVERALL 51 MATCHES My tip: How about 40 points? Wigan by 40. Wigan 39 Wakefield 12 At Halliwell Jones Stadium: first meeting at this venue

LAST TEN WIGAN 6-4 2017 Wigan16-10 Belle Vue 2017 Wakefield 42-30 DW 2017 Wakefield 32-0 Belle Vue 2018 Wigan 30-18 DW 2018 Wakefield 32-16 Belle Vue 2018 Wigan 25-10 DW 2019 Wakefield 30-20 Belle Vue 2019 Wigan 46-16 DW 2019 Wigan 24-16 Belle Vue 2020 Wigan 23-22 Headingley

BIGGEST WINS 2000 Wigan 56-6 Wakefield 2016 Wakefield 62-0 Wakefield

LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 | 45 NETHERLANDS v GERMANY

INTERNATIONALGAME MATCH DAY PROGRAM

Welcome to Amersfoort It is an absolute delight to be asked to write a few words of welcome to what may be one of very few - if not the only - international rugby league matches to be played in 2020.

To many people a game between Netherlands and Germany will evoke memories of “total football” not the rough and tumble of rugby league. It is, once again, remarkable that a sport too often regarded as confined to certain territories, can shout proudly that, in the strangest of years with obstacles everywhere, it is the Nederlandse Rugby League Bond and Nationaler Rugby League Deutschland who are able to stage a game. I congratulate and thank them for that commitment. Across the world, we have been struggling to manage the impact of COVID-19, however the rugby league federations of the Netherlands and Germany have managed to arrange a game which will be played under the government restrictions – but will be played.

International sport brings a really special dynamic for everyone involved. For the players, it’s a chance to collaborate with players with whom they normally compete in order to represent their nation with pride and honour. For the fans who normally follow their own club team, it’s a chance to unite behind their flag with followers of other clubs, but more importantly, with people whose interest is piqued by the fact that it is an international match. International games bring us all together to share the experience and be inspired. It is international matches that give a sport a truly global status. For the majority of sports, the international programme is an added and extremely valuable dimension for players, fans and sponsors over and above their excellent club competitions.

Every rugby league match is a challenge, I wish all the participants in this historic game the best of luck for the game – you will certainly have a larger audience than you might normally expect, and I am sure that you will shine.

Best wishes to our rugby league family wherever you are in the world – please look out for each other.

Nigel Wood CEO, International Rugby League

46 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 Germany coach Don Doughton adds: “Anybody going into that zone would have to go into quarantine when they came back to International Germany. It was either cancel the match or move it. rugby league - “The Dutch guys have done an incredible job to find a venue and set everything up. They’ve invested a lot and I’m sure they’re going to make a big loss on this match. A massive amount of gratitude the sport they goes to the Dutch." couldn't kill The changes mean enormous inconvenience for the players but, - Steve Mascord according to Doughton, they are more than willing to spend 14 days in quarantine if necessary just to get a game. “They haven’t THEY say rugby league is the “cockroach of sports”. Luckily, played any rugby and they just want to play,” he said. cockroaches are not afflicted by Covid-19. Each team will be permitted to have six interchanges in a match International rugby league returns this Saturday at Amersfoort, which will honour the memory of German rugby league pioneer a city in the Dutch province of Utrecth that is home to 152,000 Simon Cooper, who died in June aged 47 after a long battle with people. The match was originally intended to take place 77 km cancer. away at Leiden and was switched less than a week out. There’s even a compelling story regarding the match officials - the Only 50 people will be permitted through the gates due to the touch judges are father and son, Joseph and Dylan Jhugroo! Global Pandemic - but the show must go on. The Dutch side is made up entirely of domestic players, while Dutch coach Kane Krlic explains: “We were all planned to play a Germany have some imports - most notably Leiden and the Bond (Netherlands Rugby League) had a done a halfback Brad Billsborough. really good job to make it a big occasion. There has been talk of a return match next month - but amid the “It was going to be streaming and still hopefully will be. We had a shifting sands of the pandemic, nothing is certain. lot of signage up and we’d put our where everyone could be sitting (while socially distancing). “We have pencilled in a match on the 24th of October against the Dutch because we thought some of the other English (based) guys “Them on Friday, the Dutch government had an announcement who wanted a run-out could come to Germany because there’s no that in north and south Holland there would be no gatherings of quarantine at this moment in time,” said Doughton. more than 50 people and also that the Germans can’t come over the north or south Holland. “That can always change in the next five minutes.

“It’s quite hard to explain that to an English or Australian “We have to discuss it at the weekend but that must be in question person because Holland is not the country, it’s a region of the now because the Dutch guys who live in Rotterdam and The Hague Netherlands. It’s like saying you can’t come to north or South would have to go into quarantine when they come to Germany. . “If they’re not staying overnight and they come in and play the “The Bond had to find a way around it so they moved the game into match, as it were, in a bubble like they are doing in the Super the middle of the Netherlands. We’re still limited to just 50 people League and the NRL, maybe we can play the match but we don’t but it was a lot of legwork by the Bond, last minute.” want to take any undue risks with people’s health.”

LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 | 47 2020 INTERNATIONAL · GRIFFIN CUP NETHERLANDS v GERMANY

Netherlands squad TBC 1 Florian FREDE (Moorteufel) 2 Jannek HAGENAH (Moorteufel) Check back Thursday morning AEST! 3 George WOOD (Westfalen Warriors) 4 Basti PETER (Rhineland Raiders) 5 Aarre HEINRICHSEN (Unattached) 6 Benedikt ESSER (Hunters) 7 Brad BILLSBOROUGH (North Wales Crusaders) 8 Connor HAMPSON (Unattached) 9 Liam DOUGHTON (Ruhrpott Rhinos) 10 Karsten BRUNING (Moorteufel) 11 Martin APOSTEL (Hunters) 12 Henning BROCKMANN (Moorteufel) 13 Phil WADEWITZ (Ruhrpott Rhinos)

14 Richard SEIDLER (Rhineland Raiders) 15 Max KOTHER (Rhineland Raiders) 16 Mawuli AMEFIA (Westfalen Warriors) 17 Benjamin LAUER (Rhineland Raiders) 18 Nikilas FULLGRAF (Moorteufel) 20 Matthias AYKEL (Rhineland Raiders)

FOR the German side, this Saturday’s game Munich. It's had a stoddery growth but... is about one person: Simon Cooper. “We wouldn’t have had any rugby league The founder of rugby league in Germany in Germany up to this date if Simon hadn’t fought a brave fight against cancer in started it up. recent years before finally succumbing in June, leading to an outpouring of grief “I came to Germany, I met Simon and I got from around the rugby league world. involved in Rugby League Deutschland. Simon and I were both unavailable due Former Brisbane Broncos coach Anthony because of illness and the organisation was Seibold is just one who benefited from basically run into the ground. The RLEF Cooper’s passion and enthusiasm. asked me if I’d start it up again so that’s “It’s going to be very special - his wife and what we did. daughter are coming,” said Germany coach Don Doughton. “Simon came back and we both decided we’d do the coaching. It “We’ll pay our respects to him and I’m sure that’s going to be a very carried on like that … and then Simon sadly passed away. emotional moment for everyone. “Last year we started up a domestic cup competition and called it “Simon originated from Halifax. His father was born in Germany. the Cooper Cup.” He played at Halifax’s A-team and he started rugby league down in

48 | LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 #IRLnedger Match Preview MATCH DETAILS with Steve Mascord DATE Saturday 26 September 2020 KICKOFF 5:00pm CEST WHEN Netherlands coach Kane Krilic says he was born into coaching, he means it VENUE RC Eemland, Amersfoort in quite a hardcore way. Utrecht, Netherlands “I used to think it was normal that you’d go watch a live rugby league game, come home, watch the re-run and then watch it again in the morning,” the 31-year-old Englishman explains. “I didn’t realise it wasn’t the normal thing to watch every game MATCH OFFICIALS three times.” REFEREE Jaroslav BZOCH (CZE) Why? Kane comes from a famous family - but not that of 1982 Kangaroos captain SIDELINE OFFICIALS Joseph JHUGROO (AUS) Max Krilich. Dylan JHUGROO (AUS) “My stepdad is ,” he says, in reference to the decorated Wales and Bradford mentor.

“I went to university, got a job at the RFL as a development officer in the Midlands, then a development officer at . Then I met a Dutch girl who is now my ex-girlfriend.”

Which brings him to the first rugby league international since lockdown began, against Germany in Amersfoort. Saturday’s game will be played under open interchange rules with each team given six reserves. It’s a change requested by the Germans which the Dutch took a little convincing about.

“We asked the Dutch if we could play more players,” says Germany coach Don RUGBY LEAGUE project Doughton. “It’s a friendly so I don’t see any problem with that and they agreed. “The point is to get a game of rugby league on in a safe environment.” Match Stats The most accomplished player on the field is North Wales Crusaders half, Brad Billsborough. Last year the St Helens Academy product won a premiership with HEAD TO HEAD Group Nine’s Grafton Ghosts; he’s also had stints which Whitehaven and Swinton. Krlic says fans will be impressed by a number of his players, all from the domestic OVERALL 8 MATCHES competition.

Netherlands 4 Germany 4 “For games like this, we’ve had a rule that we always pick domestic-based players,” At RC Eemland: first meeting at this venue he said. “For what was going to be the Euro Championships, we were going to bring in some heritage players. (For this game) they have to have played at least a season of rugby league in the Netherlands. LAST EIGHT 4-ALL 2005 August 7 “It’s been pretty much the same team for two or three years now and every year we have one or two new players. Netherlands 34-28 “I really like Arie who’s our fullback. He’s a young lad, early 20s but he was one of 2013 May 4 the players who we coached in the school development programme when he was Germany 28-22 15. Never played rugby union or rugby league before and he’s gone through the pathways. 2014 May 3 Germany 70-16 “He got the man of the match last year against Germany. “We’ve got a new pivot, Auke, who’s been around rugby league for a few years now 2015 June 20 but is finally making his debut. We’re hoping he’s the sort of player who, given a bit of Germany 46-12 space with the ball in his hand, can create something out of nothing.

2016 August 13 “Then Joran, who’s our left centre, he’s very dangerous. Every time he touches the Germany 8-6 ball you think something could happen. We’re hoping next year we can get him to some British clubs for some training over there.”

2017 August 26 Whoever wins, it’s the continuation of a beautiful relationship. Doughton says: “Right Netherlands 30-18 from the start of Rugby League Deutschland’s existence, we started working with Holland. It’s now the eighth match in the series and we work together on various 2018 September 1 things. Netherlands 38-22 “We’re so close to one another. The match is two hours from where I live. If I go to Heidelberg, it takes me three hours. Munich it’s about six hours. 2019 September 14 Netherlands 56-18 “We have players in the German league who play in the Dutch league.”

Who to watch: He’s the only pro on the field so the exception on Germany half Brad BIGGEST WINS Billsborough will be matched only by the defensive attention he attracts! 2014 May 3 Germany 70-16 Favourites: Netherlands have the home ground advantage but Germany have the most experienced playmaker and a powerful motivation in paying tribute to their 2019 September 14 progenitor Simon Cooper. Netherlands 56-18 My tip: Germany by 12

LEAGUEUNLIMITED.COM | THE FRONT ROW | VOL 1 ISSUE 18 | 49 De EERSTE RIJ £3.60 VOLUME 1 · ISSUE 18

Internationale rugby league plus Full NRL and is terug! Super League teamlists for this weekend

NETHERLANDS v GERMANY, RC EEMLAND 26 September 2020, 5pm